MINISTER FOR WOMEN

International Women's Day

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on her Department's contribution to International Women's Day.

Patricia Hewitt: As part of the celebrations for International Women's Day, the Women and Equality Unit launched an excellent pack for young people—"Does Sex Make a Difference", and I opened the International Women's Day adjournment debate in the House of Commons, and launched a special 50p coin to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the formation of the Women's Social and Political Union.

Student Debt

David Rendel: To ask the Minister for Women what consultations the Minister has had with the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education regarding the different level of difficulty men and women have in repaying student debts.

Patricia Hewitt: I have discussed with both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and my hon. Friend the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education the issue of student debt, and its impact on women in particular.

Child Care

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Minister for Women what steps she is taking to support the development of child care as a business.

Patricia Hewitt: Child care businesses, particularly micro-businesses and social enterprises, need support and skills training in order to be sustainable. We are working with DfES and DWP to improve links and support between Business Link Operators and child care business support officers to this end. A specific targeted programme of support, including provision of good practice, workshops, resource packs, a helpline and a website, is scheduled to start in May and run until March 2004.

Private Members' Clubs

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has to propose legislation against sex discrimination against women in private members' clubs.

Patricia Hewitt: I welcome the Sex Discrimination (Clubs and Other Associations) Bill, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 4 February 2003. There is no question that the inequalities which persist in some mixed-sex clubs are out of date and contrary to this Government's principles of opportunity for all.
	While I can make no commitment on parliamentary time, this is a matter which we will keep under review.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Small Businesses

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that small businesses are encouraged to bid for public sector contracts.

Nigel Griffiths: Small firms make a vital contribution to the public sector. A survey of selected departments and agencies shows 50 per cent. of our contracts go to SMEs with a value of £730 million.
	We have cut the requirement to provide three years accounts, to two years and I now want the requirement abolished to encourage start-ups and fledgling businesses.
	And this new booklet "Smaller supplier—better value" supports our new web portal for small firms seeking Government contracts.
	But there is much much more we can and must do.

Fireworks

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations she has received expressing a desire for stricter legislation on the use of fireworks.

Melanie Johnson: Since the beginning of November 2002 I have received 2,078 representations indicating a desire to see tighter controls on fireworks. These comprise 1,588 letters from the general public, 476 letters from MPs, eight Petitions, and six meetings with representatives from various organisations interested in improving fireworks legislation.

Agency Workers Directive

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from businesses on the proposed temporary agency workers directive.

Alan Johnson: The Government held a public consultation on the proposed directive from 10 July 2002 to 18 November 2002. A summary of responses to the public consultation has been placed in the Library of the house, along with an Explanatory Memorandum and a Regulatory Impact Assessment.

World Trade

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on current negotiations regarding TRIPS.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are disappointed that the WTO did not reach agreement on TRIPS and Public Health by the deadline of December last year.
	The US was the only member of the WTO who could not accept the proposal on the table.
	We will continue to work with all WTO members to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

World Trade

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to achieve a world trade agreement in the interests of developing countries.

Patricia Hewitt: We are committed to ensuring that the Doha Development Agenda delivers substantial benefits to all WTO members, especially developing countries.
	In particular this means making substantial progress on agricultural liberalisation, TRIPS and Public Health and Special and Differential Treatment.
	Halving protectionism, according to EU figures, would increase developing countries income by an estimated $150 billion per year—more than three times the world's current aid budgets.

Post Office

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the implementation of the Post Office Urban Re-Invention Programme.

Stephen Timms: Following parliamentary approval in October, the programme is going ahead in accordance with the code of practice agreed with Postwatch. I met with Postwatch yesterday to assess their role in reviewing each urban sub-post office closure proposal.

Community Pharmacies

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received relating to the Office of Fair Trading recommendations regarding community pharmacies.

Patricia Hewitt: Stakeholders have been feeding in their views on the OFT's report, both through the appropriate health departments and to DTI directly.

Iraq

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that British industry plays a substantial role in reconstruction following a possible conflict in Iraq.

Patricia Hewitt: We wish to see UK companies play a substantial role in the humanitarian and reconstruction process in Iraq. British firms have a wealth of experience in the Middle East. We have made this clear to USAID and will continue to discuss with British business how they can best contribute to the development of Iraq for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

Child Care

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to increase child care provision by employers.

Alan Johnson: We recognise that employers play an important role in providing access to good quality, affordable child care. The Paymaster General launched a consultation in February on proposals to extend the tax and national insurance exemptions on employer supported child care. The tax and national insurance proposals aim to provide a better incentive for more employers to support a wider range of formal child care for all working parents, helping the growth and sustainability of child care provision.
	In addition we will be looking at the results of the Work-Life Balance survey of employers to see what other support is needed to provide more child care provision by employers.

Ambition Construction Programme

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 808W, on house building, how many new deal clients have been (a) funded and (b) trained by the Ambition Construction programme in skilled jobs directly relevant to the house building profession in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Nick Brown: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2001, we launched the Ambition initiative to help unemployed and disadvantaged people gain the right skills to meet the needs of employers in key sectors such as construction.
	Ambition: Construction has been operational since June 2002 with pilots currently running in six locations. Training is provided across the full range of building skills, including bricklaying, roofing, plastering, joinery, glazing and painting and decorating. The aim of this training is to provide participants with the skills they need for a wide variety of jobs in the construction industry, including house building.
	By the end of February 2003, 420 people had started training on the programme. Most of the training courses on this programme last 26 weeks and so only 64 people have so far completed training. However, 54 of these have already started work.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 15 July 2002 on behalf of Mr. Roger Turner.

Patricia Hewitt: I apologise for the delay but I am informed that my noble Friend the Minister for Trade, will be replying very shortly.

Departmental Phone Directory

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the most recent internal phone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Patricia Hewitt: The internal phone directory for my Department is published electronically in the form of an online database known as people@dti. Keeping their contact details up to date is the responsibility of individual members of staff who make changes through the Department's Human Resources system. Such changes update the directory overnight.
	My Department is in the process of developing an offline version of the directory for those in government who do not have access to the online version. When this is available, and staff have been informed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998,1 will place a copy in the Library of the House.
	Details of our senior staff are, however, available in publications such as the Civil Service Yearbook, Vacher's Parliamentary Companion, Vacher Dod's Civil Service Companion and the PMS Parliamentary Companion.

Hydroelectricity

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to facilitate imports from Norway of renewable electricity generated by hydro-power.

Brian Wilson: I understand that National Grid Transco are considering, with Statnett, the Norwegian grid operator, the construction of an interconnector between the UK and Norway that will enable the import of electricity from Norway—and exports to Norway. While this is a commercial project, and not directly a matter for my Department, I nonetheless welcome it as increased interconnection provides greater flexibility and security.
	I am aware that a high proportion of Norwegian electricity is generated by hydro-power, although from time to time, and especially in periods of low rainfall. Norway is a net importer of electricity, which may be from fossil sources.

Iraq

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value was of (a) imports and (b) exports between each EU member state and Iraq in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The information is as follows:
	
		EU-15 Trade in goods with Iraq: 1997 to January-June 2002 -- Value US$000
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 January to June 2002 
		
		
			 Total EU-15 Exports 220,199 542,165 651,532 1,038,550 1,729,640 849,855 
			 France 24,546 85,300 77,837 129,042 591,869 212,556 
			 Italy 5,027 37,580 72,453 242,276 327,336 148,373 
			 Germany 126,571 244,468 300,460 361,895 301,408 203,872 
			 Spain 5,374 14,055 29,085 57,282 92,983 37,832 
			 Belgium — — 37,339 52,279 88,366 46,750 
			 UK 10,492 42,099 56,899 77,174 87,825 27,846 
			 Austria 1,490 9,671 12,341 28,740 76,845 58,677 
			 Sweden 1,517 9,253 4,222 20,309 69,676 43,993 
			 Denmark 7,131 15,195 8,402 20,165 39,298 17,947 
			 Netherlands 12,559 24,977 42,752 32,522 37,693 24,026 
			 Finland 269 1,377 6,884 7,744 8,981 3,359 
			 Greece 188 2,040 870 4,093 5,868 16,314 
			 Portugal 113 61 1,043 50 926 — 
			 Ireland 46 204 949 4,915 303 1,070 
			 Luxembourg — — — 62 261 7,243 
		
	
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 January to June 2002 
		
		
			 Total EU-15 Imports 1,571,605 2,091,528 3,922,926 5,808,776 3,183,755 678,503 
			 France 6,260 78,332 88,430 42,531 888,243 224,752 
			 Netherlands 173,635 — 1,114,705 686,149 796,171 241,363 
			 Italy 202,673 401,046 804,817 1,682,160 605,934 60,636 
			 Spain 439,391 507,381 623,586 1,198,505 438,252 78,702 
			 Greece 18,208 76,153 78,550 308,297 230,156 16,431 
			 Austria 132,451 134,965 210,671 284,021 170,532 51,619 
			 Portugal 71,516 118,698 196,336 161,685 52,788 — 
			 UK 48 35,969 671 94 1,252 55 
			 Germany 527,418 738,830 805,158 1,325,241 377 4,948 
			 Denmark — 2 — 3 26 — 
			 Sweden — — — 119,931 21 1 
			 Luxembourg — — — — 1 — 
			 Belgium — — — 159 — — 
			 Finland — — 3 — — — 
			 Ireland 7 — — 1 — — 
		
	
	Source:
	Eurostat Extra and Intra EU Trade
	DTI/SU-SA

Nationalised Businesses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many nationalised businesses are run by her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: DTI has lead policy responsibility within Government for the following Nationalised Industries:
	British Nuclear Fuels PLC
	British Coal Corporation
	British Shipbuilders

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church Repairs (VAT)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to his oral statement of 3 February, Official Report, column 20, on church repairs and VAT, when he expects the review of the sixth VAT Directive to be completed.

Stuart Bell: I refer the hon. Member to my written answer of 12 March 2003.
	Work is ongoing between Commission officials and Member States to finalise the details of the revision to the Sixth Directive. The aim is to get sufficient agreement in the Council for the 'Recast' Directive to be formally adopted before the next enlargement of the EU, scheduled for May/June 2004.
	The recasting of the Sixth Directive is a separate exercise to other elements of the Sixth Directive being revised, such as the reduced rates review, scheduled to take place later this year, or the Labour Intensive Services Experiment.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service (Travel Expenses)

John Maples: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what grades in the Civil Service are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties.

Douglas Alexander: Government departments and agencies have delegated authority to decide the rules governing travel by air for their own staff in connection with their employment, subject to the conditions set out in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code. Paragraph 8.2.1 requires departments and agencies to ensure that staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances, taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities.

Advertising and Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of total Government spending on advertising and publicity for each of the last five years; what value for money assessments of such spending have been carried out; if he will publish these; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government have spent the following on advertising in the last five years.
	
		
			 Year Cash expenditure (£000) Prices in real terms (£000)* 
		
		
			 1997–98 60,000 65,800 
			 1998–99 106, 000 110,600 
			 1999–2000 113,500 114, 100 
			 2000–01 192,400 186,600 
			 2001–02 162,600 162, 600 
		
	
	* In real terms at 2001–02 prices based on advertising media inflation rates.
	Source:
	COI
	Advertising is used by Departments when they judge it is the most cost effective way of delivering the publicity necessary to support a policy or proposal. These figures represent the advertising commissioned on behalf of Departments and Agencies by the Central Office of Information. The figures for the total publicity spend of Government Departments is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The responsibility for ensuring that the guidance. on propriety is observed and that value for money is being achieved rests with Ministers and Heads of Departments. The central guidance on these issues is "Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service" which can be found on the GICS website (www.GICS.gov.uk) and on the Cabinet Office website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk

Precedents Book

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Precedents Book.

Douglas Alexander: The information requested relates to internal discussion and advice and is therefore exempt from disclosure under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

Douglas Alexander: The rules relating to special advisers' political activities are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Further guidance in respect of elections for the Scottish Parliament is set out at paragraph 13 of the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.
	The reasons for a special adviser's resignation are a private matter between the Department and adviser, and are therefore exempt from disclosure under paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Information.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

"Waste Not, Want Not"

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an interim statement on progress towards the development of (a) public expenditure programmes and (b) institutional arrangements needed to implement the recommendations of the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not, Want Not".

Michael Meacher: Following last November's pre-Budget report, a Ministerial Group was established to consider a number of issues, including the proposed new public expenditure programme. The group has met on three occasions, and its decisions will form a key part of the Government's response to the Strategy Unit report. Defra has begun implementing a new institutional structure to drive delivery of the new programme, and is in the process of appointing a programme director.

Animal Diseases (EU Aid)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the claim for a share of the 2003 EU financial package to tackle BSE and other animal diseases was submitted late by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 March 2003
	The TSE programme was not submitted as a result of an oversight and a subsequent misunderstanding with the commission. The programme was submitted on 22 October when we asked the Commission to reconsider making an EU contribution. The Commission have now confirmed that it is not legally possible for a payment to be made.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to protect the British poultry industry from avian influenza.

Elliot Morley: In order to protect the British poultry industry from avian influenza (AI) the Department has taken the following steps.
	On 21 February 2003 and 3 March 2003 Defra and the Devolved Administrations issued Declarations under Regulation 27 of the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (and equivalent legislation in the devolved territories) introducing a ban on the import of live poultry and hatching eggs into the UK from Hong Kong and the Netherlands respectively following outbreaks of avian influenza in these countries. These Declarations make it a criminal offence to import live poultry and hatching eggs into the UK from both Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Following a suspicion of AI in Belgium, a further Declaration was issued on 12 March 2003 prohibiting the import of live poultry and hatching eggs from Belgium.
	In addition to the above, on 14 March 2003 Defra also banned the import of racing/show pigeons into England from the Netherlands and Belgium under domestic legislation due to the disease risk they presented. Similar Declarations are being introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	In normal circumstances, all birds (poultry or captive birds) entering the UK must be accompanied by an EU model health certificate stating that premises and area of origin are free from AI. In addition, captive bird imports into the UK from Third Countries are subject to a 30 days quarantine during which birds must be laboratory tested for avian influenza.
	Defra has reminded egg and poultry producers in the UK about the need for stringent biosecurity measures at all times. To minimise the introduction of AI into their flocks by means of faecal contamination, poultry producers should ensure that their boots, clothing, equipment and vehicles are disinfected. Access by wild birds should be minimised, for instance by clearing up feed spillages. Officials have asked poultry producers in the UK to be vigilant for any signs of respiratory disease in birds and contact their local veterinary office immediately if they have any concerns.
	The Department is monitoring the AI situation in the Netherlands and Belgium, and should there be any significant change the risk assessment for the UK will be reviewed.

Environment Council

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she supported French proposals at the Environment Council on 4 March to create a programme to monitor by satellite hydrocarbon discharges at sea; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 March 2003
	The French made a statement proposing enhanced European co-operation in satellite monitoring of hydrocarbon discharges at sea under "Other Business". There was no substantive debate of the issue and the United Kingdom did not intervene.
	The UK has used satellite surveillance on a trial basis, with the Coastguard Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre acting as the focal point. The experience was positive, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is keen to develop the facility further. The UK already shares satellite information with other Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement, and we are working with those Parties and with the EC Management Committee on Marine Pollution with a view to establishing an international monitoring programme.

Fly-tipping

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) individuals and (b) businesses have been successfully prosecuted for incidences of fly-tipping in each year since 1992; and what fines have been levied as a result.

Michael Meacher: Both local authorities and the Environment Agency have the powers to prosecute for fly-tipping offences. There is no central register of this information for local authorities. The Environment Agency has collected the requested data since January 2002.
	Prosecution data for the 1999, 2000 and 2001 calendar years are available, but relate to the number of offenders prosecuted for the offence of unlawfully depositing waste as described by section 33(1 )(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Similarly, prosecution data for the 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 financial years are available, but only relate to section 33 offences generally. The Agency is unable to provide prosecution data for 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.
	Data are provided on this basis.
	Offences for breach of all of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	1996–97—241
	1997–98—345
	1998–99—367
	All offences under s33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	1999—141
	117 individuals—total fines: 63,470
	24 businesses—total fines: 115,071
	2000—206
	170 individuals—total fines: 156,255;
	36 businesses—total fines: 425,800
	2001—225
	187 individuals—total fines: 158,857;
	38 businesses—total fines: 144,050
	Offences under s33(1)(a)—fly-tipping only
	2002—70
	59 individuals—total fines: 51,100;
	11 businesses—total fines: 26,200
	2003 to date—7
	4 individuals—total fines: 950;
	3 businesses—total fines: 9,200
	The Government are currently discussing with the Environment Agency the potential for setting up a national recording system for fly tipping, which would record this type of data from both the Agency and local authorities in England.

Forestry Commission

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was to public funds of the operations of the Forestry Commission in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: Forestry is a devolved matter, and the cost of Forestry Commission operations in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
	However, in the year 2001–02 the commission's net operating cost for GB was £82.7 million.

Forestry Commission

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the internal audit procedures of the Forestry Commission.

Elliot Morley: There are no plans to review the Forestry Commission's internal audit procedures. These are carried out in accordance with the standards and guidance issued by HM Treasury.

Forestry Commission

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the administrative costs were of the Forestry Commission for each Government Office for the Regions in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03.

Elliot Morley: The Forestry Commission is a cross border public authority funded separately in England, Scotland and Wales by Treasury, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government respectively. It does not incur administrative costs for the Government Offices for the Regions.

Glass

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of (a) green, (b) white and (c) brown glass have been (i) landfilled, (ii) dumped at sea and (iii) recycled, in each year since 1997.

Michael Meacher: The latest available information for UK glass recycling, obtained from the British Glass Federation are listed.
	
		(Thousand tonnes)
		
			  Clear Green Brown Mixed 
		
		
			 2002 196.4 242.5 55.4 Unknown 
			 2001 197.1 270.6 65.1 4.8 
			 2000 217.8 279.5 65.4 3.9 
			 1999 171.7 262.8 61.6 2.5 
			 1998 148.7 267.5 60.1 1.4 
			 1997 147.1 219.6 65.5 Unknown 
		
	
	Figures are based on glass that has been recycled back into container manufacture within the UK.
	Since 2000 the UK as a whole has recycled approximately 20 per cent more glass into alternative uses, but colour split is unavailable and not included in above table.
	Data for tonnages of glass landfilled or dumped at sea are not available.

GM Foodstuffs

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how the Food Standards Agency's 2002 consumer attitudes to food survey has affected her Department's policy on GM foodstuffs.

Elliot Morley: My Department noted the Food Standards Agency's 2002 consumer attitudes to food survey. Surveys such as this informed our decision to hold an open and inclusive GM public debate on all the issues surrounding genetic modification.
	Our overriding objective on the issue of genetic modification is to safeguard human health and the environment and each application to release a GMO will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. However, Defra is not responsible for evaluating GM foods, this is a matter for the FSA. Issues raised, in the survey, e.g. food safety and hygiene and labelling are therefore matters for the FSA to address.

Illegal Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often the Stakeholder Forum on illegal imports has met since 31 March 2002.

Margaret Beckett: The Stakeholder Forum on illegal imports met on 31 March 2002. It was not established as a continuing body. However, the Government will reconvene a similar body of stakeholders shortly to review progress on illegal imports.

Landfill Tax

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement of the hon. Member for Wentworth of 3 February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, what projects have received approval for transitional funding; and, in each case, how much funding has been approved.

Michael Meacher: The position regarding applications to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund as at Friday 14 March was as follows:
	
		
			 Status Number Total revenue costs Total capital costs Total project costs Total shortfall requested 
		
		
			 New 7 1,228,999 6,198 1,088,551 807,559 
			 Awaiting further information 14 1,984,174 614,500 4,453,019 1,996,059 
			 Awaiting panel 9 2,330,178 3,550 1,205,681 1,473,433 
		
	
	No applications have yet been approved.

Livestock Movements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on establishing a 90-mile limit between market and abattoir.

Elliot Morley: In a written statement on 23 January 2003, Official Report, column 20WS, announcing the Government's decision to reduce the 20 day standstill to six days, I stated that Defra would commission further work into the possibility of imposing a distance limit on the movement of animals through markets or making such moves subject to special licences. A figure of 150 kilometres was suggested.
	We will discuss this suggestion further with livestock auctioneers and the farming industry in order to obtain more information about the pattern of movements through markets, and the likely impact of such a restriction, before we reach a view on its merits.

Livestock Movements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the provision at markets of overnight lairages.

Elliot Morley: In a written statement on 23 January announcing the Government's decision to reduce the 20 day standstill to six days, I stated that Defra would consult on a number of proposals aimed at improving biosecurity and disease detection, for possible introduction from 1 August, Official Report, columns 20–24WS.
	The consultation exercise is now under way. One of the proposals is for a ban on animals being kept overnight at markets. We will consider carefully all the responses to the consultation paper, including any suggestions for alternative measures which might achieve the same objectives, before we reach a view on the merits of the proposals.

Public Expenditure

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce the public expenditure programmes and institutional arrangements needed to implement the recommendations of the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not, Want Not".

Michael Meacher: Announcements will be made alongside the Government's response to the Strategy Unit report, which we plan to publish around the time of the Budget.

Waste Recycling

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further measures are planned to help increase the amount of household waste which is recycled.

Michael Meacher: Last year the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit examined the extent of the waste problem, pressures for change and recommended a range of measures to improve performance on sustainable waste management in its report "Waste Not Want Not". We will be publishing our response to the report shortly.
	Since publication of Waste Strategy 2000, which set national targets for the recycling or composting of at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005 and 30 per cent. by 2010, we have set statutory recycling and composing targets for all local authorities to achieve these goals. We have also introduced the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund to support local authority investment in appropriate infrastructure. We have also set up the Waste Resources Action Plan (WRAP) to help create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and to remove market barriers to waste minimisation, reuse and recycling. And the Waste Emissions and Trading Bill will, by setting reducing ceilings on the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill, provide an indirect incentive to increase recycling.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the communiqué issued by the UN Secretary-General on 11 March concerning the future of its plan to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reunification of Cyprus.

Denis MacShane: The British Government fully supports the decision of the UN Secretary-General, announced in his press statement of 11 March, to bring to a close the intensive phase of negotiations to secure a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
	We share Mr. Annan's sense of sadness that this opportunity to secure accession to the EU by a reunited island has been missed. Throughout the talks, the UN Secretary-General, his special adviser, Alvaro de Soto, and his team have negotiated skilfully and professionally. But Mr Denktash's refusal to put the UN proposals to a referendum in the north of Cyprus, and his rejection of the idea of implementing a work programme for the next two weeks, aimed at preparing for a referendum before Cyprus signs the Treaty of Accession with the European Union on 16 April, left Mr. Annan with no alternative to the decision he took.
	I have placed a copy of Mr Annan's statement in the Library of the House.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he plans to have with President Papadopoulos of the Republic of Cyprus on restarting discussions towards future negotiations on Cyprus;
	(2)  what discussions he plans to have with the Government of Turkey on its future role in discussions regarding Cyprus.

Denis MacShane: The UN Secretary-General has said that he remains at the disposal of the parties in Cyprus, should they ask for UN support in re-starting the settlement negotiations on the basis of his proposals of 26 February. We fully support the UN Secretary-General in this approach, and we will be making this clear to all concerned.

Diplomatic Relations(France, Germany and Russia)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Russia.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom's bilateral relations with France, Germany and Russia remain close. We work with France and Germany effectively on important issues such as European defence and the Convention on the future of Europe, and with Russia on the fight against terrorism. There are areas of policy on which we do not agree on tactics e.g. Iraq. But although our approaches on Iraq may differ, there is no difference between us on the fundamental point of the absolute need to disarm Saddam.

Edgar Fernandes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the case of Mr. Edgar Fernandes with the Turkish authorities; and if he will meet the hon. Member for Leicester, East to discuss the case of Mr. Edgar Fernandes.

Mike O'Brien: We have been monitoring the investigation into Mr. Fernandes' murder since 1998. Our consular staff in Turkey have regularly attended court hearings relating to the case. We have also raised the case with the Deputy Director General of the Turkish Ministry of Justice, the prosecutor and the family's lawyer. The lawyer and the prosecutor have assured us that rumours that the case may be closed are unfounded. Our consular staff will attend the next court hearing on 10 April and will continue to keep the family fully informed of developments. I do not consider that a meeting with my hon. Friend would be productive at this stage, but we will review this point once the outcome of the case is known.

Iraq

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the verification of UN sanctions placed on Iraq in each of the last five years, including a list of imports and their sources.

Bill Rammell: Exports to Iraq are monitored by the UN Office of the Iraq Programme. They provide a breakdown of Iraqi imports by sector. The document is available on the Internet atthe following address http://www.un.org/Depts/oip/background/basicfigures2.html.
	The following is a breakdown of Iraqi imports from EU countries over the last six years:
	
		Value: US$ 000s
		
			  January to June 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Total EU-15 Exports 220,199 542,165 651,532 1,038,550 1,729,640 849,855 
			  
			 France 24,546 85,300 77,837 129,042 591,869 212,556 
			 Italy 5,027 37,580 72,453 242,276 327,336 148,373 
			 Germany 126,571 244,468 300,460 361,895 301,408 203,872 
			 Spain 5,374 14,055 29,085 57,282 92,983 37,832 
			 Belgium — — 37,339 52,279 88,366 46,750 
			 UK 10,492 42,099 56,899 77,174 87,825 27,846 
			 Austria 1,490 9,671 12,341 28,740 76,845 58,677 
			 Sweden 1,517 9,253 4,222 20,309 69,676 43,993 
			 Denmark 7,131 15,195 8,402 20,165 39,298 17,947 
			 Netherlands 12,559 24,977 42,752 32,522 37,693 24,026 
			 Finland 269 1,377 6,884 7,744 8,981 3,359 
			 Greece 188 2,040 870 4,093 5,868 16,314 
			 Portugal 113 61 1,043 50 926 - 
			 Ireland 46 204 949 4,915 303 1,070 
			 Luxembourg — — — 62 261 7,243 
		
	
	Fully comprehensive information concerning the source and type of goods imported by Iraq is not readily available, and would incur disproportionate cost to discover.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to compensate surviving family members of civilians killed by the United Kingdom and United States military campaign against Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The UK is committed to acting in accordance with international law. If military action is undertaken lawfully, no right to compensation arises. We have always been, and will remain, in the forefront of efforts to help the Iraqi people. Unlike Saddam Hussein, we have always tried to minimise the adverse effects of our actions on Iraqi civilians.

Kosovo

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Albanians have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted in Kosovo of being involved in the destruction of Orthodox churches since June 1999.

Denis MacShane: holding answer of 18 March
	.There have been no Albanians arrested, charged, or convicted, in Kosovo for being involved in the destruction of Orthodox churches.
	I told Kosovo Albanian leaders during my visits to the province that the destruction of churches and all religious sites were acts of barbarism which bring shame and dishonour to all concerned. NATO-led KFOR continues to patrol and guard churches.

Kosovo

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is available for Serbs who were forced to leave Kosovo to return to the province in respect of (a) accommodation and (b) security.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 18 March 2003
	The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) co-ordinates sustainable returns of all Internally Displaced Persons and refugees to Kosovo, including Serbs. The UNHCR, as well as cross-border Non-Governmental Organisations and local authorities, provide information on all aspects of the return process, including on accommodation and security, as well as public services, economic opportunities, and acceptance by the existing communities. It is ultimately a decision for each individual as to whether to return to Kosovo, based on the information provided by these agencies.
	We recognise the problems facing Kosovo Serbs. Though returns have clearly not been sufficient, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), under the leadership of Michael Steiner, has established an Office for Returns and Communities, and a Strategy for Sustainable Returns for 2003. UNMIK and the NATO-led KFOR provide security within the Province.

Ministerial Travel

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

Jack Straw: The following is a list of internal flights made by Ministers in that capacity in my Department in 2002.
	1. I flew to Manchester from London Heathrow on 27 July 2002. The cost of the Business Class ticket was £158.50.
	2. I flew to Edinburgh on an RAF HS125 on 27 August 2002, then on to Belfast, before returning to London. I was accompanied on the aircraft by a Private Secretary; a Special Adviser, three officials and a Special Branch Protection Officer. The cost of the aircraft was £2,028.84.
	3. I flew from London to Birmingham on an RAF helicopter on 6 September 2002. The cost was £1,838.09 and I was accompanied by my Private Secretary and a Special Branch Protection Officer. For further details, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chelmsford, West (Mr. Burns) on 5 February 2003, column 306W.
	4. My noble Friend Baroness Symons flew to Teesside from London Heathrow on 29 November 2002. The cost of the Business Class ticket was £403.50.
	5. The then Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Peter Hain) flew to Belfast from London Heathrow on 26 February 2002. The cost of the Economy Class ticket was £166.40.
	6. The Minister for Europe, my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) flew to Glasgow from London Heathrow on 7 July 2002. The cost of the Business Class ticket was £261.40. 7. The Minister for Europe, my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) flew to Glasgow from London Heathrow on 17 October 2002. The cost of the Business Class ticket was £289.40.

Libya

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Libyan authorities regarding the murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher in 1984; and what progress has been made in finding the killer.

Mike O'Brien: The ongoing investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police. Officers from the Metropolitan Police made two visits to Libya in 2002 to discuss the investigation with the relevant Libyan judicial authorities. I also raised the issue with the Libyan Foreign Minister when I visited Libya in August 2002. The Metropolitan Police will continue to pursue this investigation.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

Jack Straw: No special advisers have left and none will be working in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

Jack Straw: Departmental business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

China

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Chinese Government regarding the pending death sentence on Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche.

Bill Rammell: We have raised the case of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche (together with that of Lobsang Dhondup) three times with the Chinese authorities. We also supported strongly worded EU demarches to the Chinese and an EU declaration on the case. The Chinese authorities have confirmed that his original sentence, the death sentence, suspended for two years, has been upheld.
	We shall continue to raise our concerns with the Chinese about this case and the treatment of Tibetans more generally.

Turkey

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other European Union member states on human rights issues in Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed human rights issues in Turkey with EU colleagues at the European Council in Copenhagen in December 2002. At official level, our dialogue with EU partners is constant, in Ankara, Brussels and elsewhere.

UN Compensation Commission

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the UK representatives are on the UN Compensation Commission; how much compensation has so far been disbursed, broken down by country of origin of the case; and how much has been committed to be disbursed (a) in total and (b) by country of origin of the case.

Mike O'Brien: The UK, as a Security Council member, sits on the Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission and is represented by HMG officials in Geneva and London. Claims for compensation from the UNCC are dealt with by the FCO Consular Claims Section and through our diplomatic mission in Geneva.
	The commission has received about 2.6 million claims seeking compensation in excess of US$300 billion. The majority of these claims have been resolved. Nearly 100 Governments have submitted claims, as well as various UN organisations. Details of which countries have submitted claims can be found on the UNCC website: www.unog.ch/uncc.

DEFENCE

Advertising Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on (a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events.

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in each of the last 24 months on (a) television, (b) radio and (c) newspaper advertising for each of the armed forces.

Lewis Moonie: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, since 1999–2000 Ministry of Defence's advertising and publicity costs have been published in the annual Departmental Performance Report, broken down into categories of RN, Army, RAF and civilian recruitment, PR, marketing and business support services, Chief of PR, sales promotion, scholarships and National Employers' Liaison Committee. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

Age Diversity

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department completed its diagnostic review for compliance with the Government's Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment; and what changes his Department plans to make following the review.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence reviewed its employment policies in accordance with the Government's Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment and took steps to integrate age into its equal opportunities policies through implementation of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report "Winning the Generation Game". This made specific recommendations for the civil service to ensure that policies are age-proofed in preparation for the legislation to be introduced in 2006. The review was concluded in May 2002. It included consideration of raising the retirement age to allow those staff who currently have a retirement age of 60 the option to stay on to the age of 65. The conclusion was that there should be no change to the retirement policy at this stage, but that it should be kept under review in light of the emerging legislation. The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that its employment policies do not discriminate unfairly on grounds of age or for any other reason.

Armed Forces' Pay

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with representatives of Her Majesty's forces on the formation of a federation to represent the armed forces in negotiations over pay and working conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: None. The independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) makes recommendations to the Government on pay, after gathering evidence from a wide variety of sources, including Service personnel of all ranks. The AFPRB system commands widespread respect throughout the Services.
	Members of the Armed Forces may also express their views about working and living conditions through Continuous Attitude Surveys, Service personnel liaison teams and their own chains of Command, who have a duty to look after the welfare and well-being of personnel under their authority.

Armed Forces' Pay

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the high and low pay banding system will apply to all members of HM forces; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The majority of Armed Forces personnel have now transferred to Pay 2000, which was implemented on 1 April 2001 and introduced an incremental, two-tier system of higher and lower pay bands for regular serving other ranks. A full review of Pay 2000 will take place to inform the 2004 pay round but there are currently no plans to introduce higher and lower pay bands for officers, although they will continue to be subject to an incremental pay system.

Armed Services (Free Travel)

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ranks in the armed services are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties.

Lewis Moonie: Air transport is the normal method of movement for Service Personnel and their families travelling to and from the United Kingdom. Operational airlift for all personnel, including senior officers, is conducted using either trooping flights or commercial charter for which there is no business class entitlement. The booking of seats on civilian commercial flights to destinations not served by air trooping services, or to which service flights are not available at the time required, is permissible but only with the prior approval of the appropriate budget holder.
	The number of flying hours in one day dictates the seat class entitlement at public expense. There is no entitlement to first class travel for flights under 2.5 hours duration.
	For flights over 2.5 hours, only 4-star Service officers are permitted to travel first class. Where there are only first or third class seats available, 2-star officers and above may also travel first class.
	For flights of 4 hours duration or longer, 1-star Service officers may travel first class when a business class seat is unavailable.
	All ranks of the armed services are entitled to travel business class—if a seat is available—for flights over 2.5 hours. Leave travel is undertaken at economy rates.

Award Schemes

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

Lewis Moonie: Although some parts of the Ministry of Defence have been involved in the sponsorship of award schemes open to external candidates, we have not devoted significant resources to the promotion of any such scheme in 2001 or 2002.

Blood-Clotting Bandages

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether blood-clotting bandages will be available to troops deployed in the Middle East.

Lewis Moonie: No. There are currently no fibrin (blood clotting agent) impregnated bandages licensed in the United Kingdom and such bandages will not be issued to United Kingdom service personnel deployed in the Middle East.

Chemical/Biological Weapons

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate the Government have made of the useable lifetime of (a) anthrax (wet form), (b) smallpox, (c) VX and (d) mustard gas; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The stability of these materials depends very much on the initial purity and the precise storage conditions. Their usable lifetime as chemical or biological warfare agents, can range from a few months to several tens of years. It should be noted that even partially degraded material may still pose a significant hazard.

Departmental Telephone Directory

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Lewis Moonie: The most recent paper copy of the internal phone directory for the Ministry of Defence was published in June 1999. However, the directory has been regularly updated and maintained on the internal Defence websites, allowing access to over 100,000 staff. This is in line with the Government targets for electronic working. For those without internal web access, the directory is published quarterly on CD ROM and distributed to over 1,000 Defence staff, authorised industry partners and Defence trading funds. The latest CD ROM is due to be published at the end of March 2003.
	The directory is protectively marked RESTRICTED. The Directory is therefore only available to HMG Armed Forces staff, MOD Civilians and cleared Defence industry partners and trading funds.

Entertainment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's hospitality budget (a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year.

Lewis Moonie: Expenditure on entertainment by the Ministry of Defence in each year since 1996–97 was as follows:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 1996–97 5.145 
			 1997–98 5.035 
			 1998–99 5.563 
			 1999–2000 5.538 
			 2000–01 6.001 
			 2001–02 6.030 
		
	
	Figures for the years prior to 1996–97 cannot be provided on a consistent basis.
	Due to the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting, from 2002–03 onward entertainment costs will be reported on a different basis. The outturn for 2002–03, on this basis, is estimated to be £6.309 million.
	These figures reflect expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence, the establishments and formations of the Armed Forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying appointments for which entertainment allowances were payable. Expenditure incurred on entertainment is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

EU Defence Ministers Council

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent progress of plans to create a Council of EU Defence ministers; and what the functions of that Council are expected to be.

Geoff Hoon: Defence Ministers currently meet twice each year in the formation of the EU Council of Ministers known as the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). There have recently been proposals, in the framework of the Convention on the Future of Europe, for a new Council configuration bringing together Ministers of Defence, focusing on defence capability matters, including particularly the running of the proposed European Defence Capabilities Development and Acquisition Agency. Although establishment of such a new configuration would not require a change in the Treaty, it is likely that the issue will be dealt with as part of the Convention deliberations. No decisions have yet been taken.

General Dynamics UK

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 636W, on General Dynamics UK, which company was contracted to provide the Defence Stores Management System; whether the programme is still running; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Four companies (Electronic Data Systems, ASI, and Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, with IBM acting in a project integration role) were contracted to provide elements of the Defence Stores Management Solution (DSMS). The programme was suspended in January 2002 on grounds of affordability, and the Department is currently reviewing its requirements for an advanced inventory management capability that takes account of developments in software technology and in the light of independent external advice from McKinsey and Co.

Gulf Forces

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the UK forces serving in the Gulf area are under 18; and if he will make a statement as to their roles.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 March 2003 Official Report, column 1053W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe).

International Military Services Ltd.

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether UNMOVIC has requested information about sales of (a) materials and expertise relevant to the delivery of weapons of mass destruction and (b) missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometres from International Military Services Ltd.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission have not sought any information from the Government about the alleged provision of any goods or services to Iraq by International Military Services Ltd.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the armed forces (a) regulars and (b) reserves have specific chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training; how many of these have been deployed to the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: All armed forces personnel, including the reserves, are given training to protect themselves in a Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) environment, as part of their basic training. This is refreshed at regular intervals. The Joint NBC Regiment, which also includes a reserve element, and individuals within other units, receive specialist NBC training.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) UK military personnel and (b) military personnel of other nationalities have died in military operations in Iraq since 1990; and if he will make statement.

Adam Ingram: There have been 25 United Kingdom military operational fatalities in Iraq since 1990, 23 during the Gulf conflict in 1991 and two in 1994.
	We do not hold data in respect of other nations.

Medical Facilities (Gulf)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which British forces will be dependent on hospital and other medical facilities provided by (a) the USA and (b) other countries in the event of conflict in the Gulf.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 March 2003
	If hostilities were to occur, British forces would have access to a comprehensive range of United Kingdom medical facilities that we have deployed to the region. As is normal practice, we have also agreed reciprocal arrangements with the United States and have arrangements in place to enable United Kingdom personnel to have access to specialist medical facilities in other countries.

Military Forces Training

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those countries in which British military forces have provided training since 1997.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 March 2003
	Between January 1997 and March 2003 British Military Forces provided Ministry of Defence endorsed, in country, training to 71 countries. A complete list of those countries is shown in the table.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1 Angola 
			 2 Antigua 
			 3 Argentina 
			 4 Australia 
			 5 Bahrain 
			 6 Bangladesh 
			 7 Barbados 
			 8 Belize 
			 9 Bermuda 
			 10 Botswana 
			 11 British Virgin Islands 
			 12 Brunei 
			 13 Bulgaria 
			 14 Chile 
			 15 Colombia 
			 16 Czech Republic 
			 17 Egypt 
			 18 Eritrea 
			 19 Estonia 
			 20 Ethiopia 
			 21 Falkland Islands 
			 22 Ghana 
			 23 Grenada 
			 24 Guyana 
			 25 Hong Kong 
			 26 Indonesia 
			 27 Jamaica 
			 28 Jordan 
			 29 Kenya 
			 30 Kuwait 
			 31 Latvia 
			 32 Lebanon 
			 33 Lithuania 
			 34 Macedonia 
			 35 Malawi 
			 31 Malaysia 
			 37 Maldives 
			 38 Mauritania 
			 39 Mauritius 
			 40 Monserrat 
			 41 Morocco 
			 42 Mozambique 
			 43 Namibia 
			 44 Nepal 
			 45 Nigeria 
			 46 Oman 
			 47 Pakistan 
			 48 Palestine 
			 49 Philippines 
			 50 Poland 
			 51 Qatar 
			 52 Romania 
			 53 Rwanda 
			 54 Saudi Arabia 
			 55 Seychelles 
			 56 Sierra Leone 
			 57 Singapore 
			 58 Slovakia 
			 59 South Africa 
			 60 South Korea 
			 61 Sri Lanka 
			 62 Swaziland 
			 63 Tanzania 
			 64 Thailand 
			 65 Trinidad 
			 66 Turks and Caicos Islands 
			 67 UAE 
			 68 Uganda 
			 69 Uruguay 
			 70 Venezuela 
			 71 Zimbabwe

Military Forces Training

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy training exercises and planned deployments have been cancelled as a result of Operation Fresco.

Adam Ingram: The majority of personnel providing fire cover for Operation Fresco have been taken from ships and submarines undergoing periods of refit or maintenance, or which had returned from operational deployments and were not programmed to undergo further deployments. Only two of the ships from which personnel were taken for fire-fighting duties were prevented from undertaking operational tasks: HMS Manchester was withdrawn from NATO's Standing Force Atlantic, and HMS Lancaster from Atlantic Patrol (South). As a result, HMS Lancaster was withdrawn from the Chilean-hosted exercise Teamwork South 2003.
	Although the firefighters' dispute has reduced the number of naval vessels going through operational sea training, there has been no need to cancel joint maritime courses as a result.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his Ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was in each case.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

Lewis Moonie: The rules relating to special advisers' political activities are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Further guidance in respect of elections for the Scottish Parliament is set out at paragraph 13 of the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in United Kingdom Departments, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.
	The reasons for a special adviser's resignation are a private matter between the department and adviser, and are therefore exempt from disclosure under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans ministers of the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April.

Lewis Moonie: Departmental business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in United Kingdom Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

SCOTLAND

Fishing Industry

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she discussed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer new funding for fishing communities following the EU decision in December 2002 on quota cuts.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues.

Fishing Industry

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Scotland Office was first informed of the £55 million EU funding for Scotland's fishing industry; and by whom it was informed.

Helen Liddell: Other Government Departments and the Scottish Executive keep the Scotland Office regularly informed of all important matters relating to the fishing industry.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the (a) number and (b) locations of biofuel filling stations in the UK; and what efforts are being made to increase the number of filling stations where biofuels are sold.

David Jamieson: The Government estimate that there are currently approximately 100 filling stations retailing biodiesel in the UK, with the distribution of outlets largely skewed towards the north of the country. The number and regional availability of these sites is expected to continue to increase as the market develops further, driven by the 20 pence per litre duty incentive, introduced in July 2002, and positive customer reaction to the fuel.
	Biofuels are one of the many ways in which companies and individuals can reduce the impact on the environment of their transport decisions. In order to give consumers better access to information on biofuels, the Government have commissioned the Energy Saving Trust to develop its TransportEnergy website (www.TransportEnergy.co.uk) to include helpful advice on biofuels, including the location of UK retailing sites. This information should be on-line shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Brain Injuries

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will include brain injury as a classification sub-heading within the overall published statistics for accidents sustained and injuries treated in NHS hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: To routinely include brain injury as a classification sub-heading could be misleading and would not necessarily meet the needs of the majority of the users of the published statistics.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is currently working towards the production of detailed statistics to be published on the Internet. These will include tables showing the number of patients admitted to hospital by the type of injury or disease using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10).

Brain Injuries

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the facilities funded by the Department of Health for post-acquired brain injury rehabilitation.

Des Browne: Information on the range of facilities is not held centrally. Provision of post-acquired brain injury rehabilitation varies widely depending on the clinical needs of the individual. It includes statutory provision and that provided by specialist voluntary sector organisations, which may also be funded by the Department.

Brain Injuries

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acquired brain injury incidents related to road traffic accidents and other causes there were in each of the last three years, broken down by health board area; and what the survival rates were among such patients.

Des Browne: Details on the number of persons admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury related to road traffic accidents and other causes by health board area are provided in the tables. Information on their survival rates is not available.
	
		Admissions to hospital with brain injuries related to road traffic accidents and other causes 1999/200 to 2002
		
			 Board orResidence Related to Road Traffic Other causes All Brain Injuries 
		
		
			 1999–2000 
			 Eastern 42 176 218 
			 Northern 27 62 89 
			 Southern 40 98 138 
			 Western 39 131 170 
			 Total 148 467 615 
			 2000–01  
			 Eastern 36 183 219 
			 Northern 24 93 117 
			 Southern 33 64 97 
			 Western 18 85 103 
			 Total 111 425 536 
			 2001–02 
			 Eastern 41 179 220 
			 Northern 27 101 128 
			 Southern 21 77 98 
			 Western 24 67 91 
			 Total 113 424 537 
		
	
	Figures have been supplied from the Hospital Inpatients System (HIS) for 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02, the latest three years for which data are available.
	Brain injury has been defined as persons suffering from an intracranial injury (SO6 in the international classification of diseases ICD10).
	Data are supplied by Health Board of residence.
	Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation for admissions.

Ladies' Hockey

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated to ladies' hockey in Northern Ireland from (a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02, (iii) 2002–03 and (iv) 2003–04; and how much money in total has been allocated to the women in receipt of funding for help in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Angela Smith: The total amount of money allocated to ladies' hockey in Northern Ireland from (a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding in the years listed is as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Funding 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Lottery 0 8,850 24,400 Not available 
			 Exchequer 22,000 22,000 26,000 Not available 
		
	
	Note:
	The lottery figures take into account awards made from the Talented Athlete, Talented Athlete Next Generation and Talented Junior programmes.
	No additional funding is available or has been allocated to ladies' hockey beyond those listed above. Furthermore any funding awarded is to assist ladies' hockey prepare for major competitions in general rather than for specific competitions such as the 2004 Olympic Games.

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what cash reserves are available to Castlereagh Borough Council; and what statutory requirement there is for local authorities to keep reserves.

Paul Murphy: I am not in a position to state the level of cash reserves available to Castlereagh Borough Council. There is no statutory requirement for district councils to keep reserves nor is there any obligation on them to publish annual accounts. There is provision, however, in local government legislation which allows the ratepayers of the district access and opportunity to examine the detail of the accounts of their local council.

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the indebtedness is of the councils in Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy: The latest figures available relating to the level of indebtedness of district councils are at 31 March 2002 and have been extracted from the unaudited accounts for the financial year 2001–2002. The amounts of loans outstanding, per head of population for each district council are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 District council Amount (£) 
		
		
			 Antrim BC 232 
			 Ards BC 231 
			 Armagh C and DC 439 
			 Ballymena BC 344 
			 Ballymoney BC 125 
			 Banbridge DC 321 
			 Belfast CC 88 
			 Carrickfergus BC 239 
			 Castlereagh BC 277 
			 Coleraine BC 385 
			 Cookstown DC 55 
			 Craigavon BC 160 
			 Derry CC 188 
			 Down DC 136 
			 Dungannon and ST BC 48 
			 Fermanagh DC 47 
			 Larne BC 167 
			 Limavady BC 265 
			 Lisburn BC 250 
			 Magherafelt DC 2 
			 Moyle DC 310 
			 Newry and Mourne DC 252 
			 Newtownabbey BC 369 
			 North Down BC 200 
			 Omagh DC 209 
			 Strabane DC 73

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of debt Castlereagh Borough Council has acquired up to the end of the last financial year.

Paul Murphy: At 31 March 2002, the amount of loans outstanding, per head of Castlereagh Borough Council's population is 277. This figure has been extracted from the unaudited account for the financial year 2001/2002.

North-South Ministerial Council

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost is in 2002–03 of the Secretariat of the north south ministerial council.

Paul Murphy: The 2002–03 budget allocation for the north/south ministerial council joint secretariat (north) is £735,000. Final outturn figures for 2002–03 will not be available for some time.

Pharmacies

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what impact he expects the implementation of the proposed OFT recommendations to have upon people employed in community pharmacies;
	(2)  what benefits he estimates would be gained by the deregulation of pharmacies as recommended by the OFT investigation into the control of entry regulations for pharmacy contracts; and what studies have been carried out to assess the impact of pharmacy deregulation on the businesses of community pharmacies;
	(3)  what effect he estimates (a) increased competition in the pharmaceutical industry will have on prescription charges and (b) the deregulation of control of entry requirements for pharmacy contracts will have on disadvantaged groups in society; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what effect he expects the implementation of the proposed OFT regulations will have on (a) the distribution of pharmacies and (b) pharmacist and patient relations.

Des Browne: The Office of Fair Trading examined the UK market for retail pharmacy services in order to consider whether consumers are best served by the current statutory controls under which pharmacies can dispense NHS prescriptions. The OFT conclusion was that they are not and their report therefore recommended abolition of these controls in order to improve competition; reduce prices for over the counter medicines; and improve both access to, and the quality of, pharmaceutical services.
	Competition and consumer matters are reserved to the United Kingdom Government in Westminster and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for co-ordinating the response across Government to the report. However, Health Service pharmacy policy is a devolved matter and the regulations imposing controls on pharmacies are a matter for Ministers in each country. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is therefore working closely with Health Departments and other Government Departments to make sure that Government's response to the report takes account not only of competition and consumer interests, but widerpublic policy objectives. It is not considered that the report will affect current prescription charge arrangements.
	No decisions have been reached on the OFT recommendation and, as yet, there are no proposals for changes to the legislation. We have invited views from a wide range of stakeholders and are considering these carefully. This includes responses from political representatives, the pharmaceutical profession, the Health Service, patient representative bodies and the general public.

Publicity and Advertising

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department spent on (i) publicity and (ii) advertising in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: For the Northern Ireland Office it is not possible to disaggregate spend on publicity and advertising. The figures below cover both, for the core Department and its Agencies. Information on NDPBs is not held centrally.
	
		£
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 1995–96 2,326,800 
			 1996–97 1,247,400 
			 1997–98 1,077,706 
			 1998–99 2,466,691 
			 1999–2000 695,017 
			 2000–01 591,075 
			 2001–02 1,223,491 
			 2002–03 *1,083,477 
		
	
	* Full year estimate based on spend to date.
	Within the Northern Ireland administration it was not possible to disaggregate figures for publicity and advertising in all cases. Combined figures for publicity and advertising for the Northern Ireland Departments, its agencies and NDPBs for each year are set out in the following table.
	
		£
		
			  Total 
			  Departments Agencies 
		
		
			 1995–96 3,153,960 1,956,472 
			 1996–97 3,016,797 2,850,578 
			 1997–98 2,938,884 2,955,319 
			 1998–99 4,606,517 2,809,096 
			 1999–2000 4,508,125 3,393,004 
			 2000–01 5,064,446 6,673,867 
			 2001–02 5,223,778 6,177,507 
			 2002–03* 2,265,393 7,229,788 
		
	
	* Estimated.

Royal Prerogative of Mercy

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been exercised in respect of members of terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998.

Paul Murphy: I am sorry for the delay in replying.
	Since 1998 the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been granted 18 times in respect of individuals convicted of terrorist offences relating to Northern Ireland. The breakdown of cases is as follows:
	1998: 1
	1999: 1
	2000: 7
	2001: 6
	2002: 3

Stevens Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of the Stevens inquiry in each year since its establishment; and which Department is meeting the cost.

Jane Kennedy: The cost of the Stevens inquiry in each year since its establishment is:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2000–01 1,036,483.57 
			 2001–02 1,932,338.35 
			 2002–03 920,473.42 
		
	
	These costs are being met by the PSNI, which receives its funding through the Northern Ireland Office.

Swimming

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated to swimming in Northern Ireland from (a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding, in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02, (iii) 2002–03 and (iv) 2003–04; and for which country the two swimmers allocated funding to prepare for the 2004 Olympic Games will be competing.

Angela Smith: The total amount of money allocated to swimming in Northern Ireland from (a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding in the years listed is as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Funding 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Lottery 43,861 32,828 26,468 Not available 
			 (b) Exchequer 20,000 20,000 23,500 Not available 
		
	
	Note:
	The lottery figures take into account awards made from the Talented Athlete, Talented Athlete Next Generation and Talented Junior programmes.
	Two swimmers are currently on funding programmes associated with the Lottery Sports Fund and both have as their targeted events, competition at the 2004 Olympic Games. Both athletes, as members of the local governing body for the sport, Swim Ulster, which is affiliated with the national governing body, Swim Ireland, will compete for Ireland if selected for Olympic competition. However, selection for competition at the 2004 Olympic Games has not yet taken place and it would be premature to state that either swimmer will be competing.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Television Licence

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households received free TV licences in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, broken down by type of licence; how many households are expected to receive free TV licences in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04, (iii) 2004–05 and (iv) 2005–06; and what the cost has been.

Kim Howells: The number of free licences issued, by type of licence and in total, in 2000–01 and 2001–02, the forecast total for each of the years 2002–03 to 2005–06 (for which a breakdown by type of licence is not available), and the actual or forecast costs for each year, are as follows.
	
		
			  Number of free licences issued by type of licence (thousands)   
			  Colour Blackand white Accommodation for residential care Total free licences issued (thousands) Cost(£ million) 
		
		
			 2000–01 2,963 36 154 3,153 323 
			 2001–02 3,348 25 478 3,851 372 
			 2002–03(1)3,904 390 
			 2003–04(1)3,927 407 
			 2004–05(1)3,952 425 
			 2005–06(1)3,982 448 
		
	
	(1) Forecast
	Notes:
	Expenditure is in nominal terms and for the United Kingdom.
	Numbers and forecasts of licences issued are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	Actual and forecast costs are rounded to the nearest million pounds.
	Source:
	For 2000–01 and 2001–02: Ernst and Young Audit Reports.
	For 2002–03 and subsequent years: pre-Budget report, November 2002

Television Licence

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of a free TV licence in each of the last three years in Chorley constituency.

Kim Howells: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for the over-75s as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 5,700 people aged 75 or over living in the Chorley constituency.

Television Programming

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent research her Department has undertaken regarding programming on (a) terrestrial, (b) cable and (c) satellite television channels; and if she will place copies in the Library;
	(2)  what recent quantitative research and assessments her Department has undertaken relating to the news content of (a) terrestrial, (b) cable and (c) satellite news programmes; and if she will lay copies of those results in the Library.

Kim Howells: My Department has not undertaken any research in these areas.

Museum Funding

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects that funding will be available for Hubs allocated phase two status in the Renaissance in the Region Museum Funding Initiative; how much funding is available for the (a) phase two Hubs and (b) the phase one Hubs; what process the phase two Hubs will be required to undertake in order to receive their funding; and whether this process repeats the initial competition for phase one status and funding.

Kim Howells: We will be providing £70 million for regional museums from this year until 2005–06, which will represent a 200 per cent. increase in central Government funding by the end of the spending review period. Extra funding will also be made available to the national museums to enable them to work in partnership with regional museums. Additionally, there will be funds from the Department for Education and Skills to support museums' education.
	The funds will be distributed through nine Regional Hubs led by major regional museums. The Regional Hubs selected for priority funding are the North East, South West and West Midlands Hubs, but Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries will continue to provide a level of support to all nine Regional Hubs.
	Resource will put its recommendations to Ministers on funding allocations for all nine Regional Hubs ready for announcement in April. All Regional Hubs will then be asked to submit a detailed Business Plan by January 2004, setting out their programme of work for 2004–06. This will not be a competitive process and will build on information previously submitted.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

Kim Howells: The rules relating to special advisers' political activities are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Further guidance in respect of elections for the Scottish Parliament is set out at paragraph 13 of the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.
	The reasons for a special adviser's resignation are a private matter between the Department and adviser, and are therefore exempt from disclosure under paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Information.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans ministers of the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

Kim Howells: Departmental business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Working Group (14-to-19)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated for the 14–19 working group.

David Miliband: The total support required by the working group has not yet been finalised. Administration costs in relation to those staff currently assigned to support the group are expected to be £230,000 in 2003–04.

Aim Higher Scheme

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what opportunities the Aim Higher scheme will provide to schools to access additional funding; and whether it will be open to schools not eligible under the Excellence Cluster scheme in West Cumbria.

Margaret Hodge: The Excellence Challenge programme, which will be renamed Aimhigher, provides direct funding to schools and colleges in areas of disadvantage to raise attainment and aspirations of young people. We will be expanding this programme to include Excellence Clusters, including West Cumbria, from this September. Areas which are not covered by this programme may benefit from funding through the Higher Education Funding Council's Aimhigher: Partnerships for Progression initiative.

Ballet Schools

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many ballet schools there are in England and Wales; and what Government support is available to pupils.

David Miliband: My Department does not keep lists of the many small ballet schools in England. The Council for Dance Education and Training holds a comprehensive list of providers.
	There are four independent specialist ballet schools in England offering places to exceptionally talented children aged 11 to 19. They all participate in the Government's Music and Dance Scheme (MDS), which provides means-tested support with fees, and they all provide vocational training alongside a good academic education.
	Means-tested support for fees and maintenance is also provided for students aged 16+ by three of the MDS schools and a further four private further education institutions through the Department's Dance and Drama Awards.
	Schools issues in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Connexions Service

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants have been made by the Connexions service to voluntary organisations working with young people for each region in which it operates.

Ivan Lewis: Connexions Partnerships make both grant awards and contract payments to voluntary organisations. The latest available data are for the nine months to December 2002. It reflects the different stages of development of the 41 Connexions Partnerships that were operating for all or part of the period. Information from Partnerships suggests that grants awards and contract payments will increase further towards the end of the financial year to March 2003.
	
		
			 Region Grant awards £k Contract payments £k Total payments to voluntary organisations £k 
		
		
			 Eastern 149 0 149 
			 East Midlands 138 85 223 
			 London 345 778 1,123 
			 North East 28 0 28 
			 North West 1,141 0 1,141 
			 South East 0 128 128 
			 South West 154 532 686 
			 West Midlands 61 369 430 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 58 553 611 
			 Total 2,074 2,445 4,519

Connexions Service

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets he has set the Connexions service for the level of grants it should be making to voluntary organisations working with young people.

Ivan Lewis: There are no targets for the level of grants that Connexions Partnerships should make to voluntary and community organisations.
	Under most circumstances, we would expect Connexions Partnerships to enter into a contract with each of their service providers, including voluntary and community organisations. However, in some cases the need for a contract may present a barrier to an organisation's involvement, particularly in the case of some small voluntary or community groups. In such circumstances, Partnerships can allocate up to £30,000 to an organisation as a grant award in any 12-month period. The total amount awarded in this way is subject to an overriding limit of 5 per cent. of the Partnership's DfES grant allocation, although this may be exceeded with the agreement of the local Government Office. While Partnerships are strongly encouraged to make use of this facility, priorities and structures inevitably vary between and within areas, and it is for this reason that we do not set targets.

Connexions Service

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by Connexions, in each region, on (a) purchasing property, (b) renting property and (c) construction and refurbishment work in each year it has been operational.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected in the detail and format requested. The following table gives the expenditure of Connexions Partnerships by region for 2001–02 and the first nine months of 2002–03 recorded as "Premises Costs" in their accounts. This expenditure will include items such as rent, purchase of property, refurbishment, construction, fixtures, fittings, local taxation etc.
	
		
			 Region Number of partnerships 2001–02 Premises costs 2001–02(2)(£ million) Number of partnerships 2002–03 Premises costs 2002–03(3)(£ million) 
		
		
			 Eastern 1 207 5 1,307 
			 East Midlands 1 267 5 1,113 
			 London 2 184 5 1,877 
			 North East — — 3 953 
			 North West 3 1,438 5 2,643 
			 South East 1 637 3 862 
			 South West 2 1,258 6 1,654 
			 West Midlands 3 1,459 6 2,586 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 2 899 3 696 
			 Total 15 (4)6,349 41 (5)13,691 
		
	
	(2) 12 months
	(3) 9 months
	(4) Reflects the total annual expenditure for the 15 Partnerships that were operating for all or part of the year.
	(5) Reflects the total expenditure for the 9 months to December 2002 for the 41 Partnerships that were operating for all or part of the period. Although a further three Partnerships began operations during October and November 2002 they were not required to produce accounts for December, so no information is available for them.

Further Education Funding

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make funds available for further education colleges to accept year 11 pupils who are without a school place.

David Miliband: Local Education Authorities are responsible for ensuring all children of statutory school age have access to full-time education. They can use their funding to purchase education for children over the age of 14 from further education colleges, where this is an appropriate way of meeting their needs.

Fire Prevention

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funds he has allocated (a) for fire prevention measures and (b) for the installation of water sprinkers in (i) schools and (ii) PE colleges in 2003–04.

David Miliband: The Department does not specifically fund either fire prevention measures or the installation of water sprinklers in schools and FE colleges. If the assessment of risks to particular premises identify specific fire prevention measures, including water sprinklers, as necessary then the expenditure would come from normal school, local education authority or FE college budgets, drawing on capital allocations made available to them by the Department.

Foundation Degrees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether all foundation degree students will be guaranteed a future funded year's study in order to upgrade to a full degree.

Margaret Hodge: As well as being awards in their own right foundation degrees can lead to one or more honours degrees. Foundation degree graduates are eligible to apply for the honours degree. The entry requirements are determined by the higher education institution offering the programme of study.

Primary School Admission Criteria

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether an LEA is free to set proximity to school premises as the admission criterion for a primary school.

David Miliband: Yes. Where a LEA is the admission authority for a school it decides on the school's admission arrangements, which must include criteria for deciding which pupils should get places if there are more applicants than places. Proximity to the school is a lawful and acceptable criterion.

School Buildings

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the findings of the Audit Commission Report on Improving School Buildings.

David Miliband: We welcome this report whose conclusions provide an endorsement of our school capital investment programme and our initiative to encourage the development of asset management planning in LEAs and schools. We intend to build upon the progress made in improving the school stock in our new approach to capital investment, for which proposals were set out in the recent consultation paper 'Building Schools for the Future'.
	We are discussing with the Audit Commission our approaches to addressing the specific recommendations for Government.

School Sixth Forms

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the average A level points score per pupil for 11 to 18 years schools with sixth forms containing (a) 50 or fewer, (b) 51 to 100, (c) 101 to 150, (d) 151 to 200, (e) 201 to 250 and (f) more than 250 pupils in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 March 2003
	The average GCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16–18 in school sixth forms in 1999 to 2001 (the most recent three years for which data are available):
	
		
			 Number of students in sixth form 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Less than 50 14.7 15.7 15.3 
			 51–100 14.7 15.1 15.9 
			 101–150 16.7 17.2 17.2 
			 151–200 18.7 18.5 18.8 
			 201–250 19.4 19.9 20.5 
			 More than 250 19.7 19.6 20.2 
			 Total 18.4 18.6 19.1

Schools (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Warrington, North have, since 1997, had (a) new classrooms, (b) new dining rooms, (c) new toilet blocks and (d) other new buildings.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 March 2003
	We do not hold complete information in the form requested. However, in 1997–98 the Government introduced New Deal for Schools (NDS) as a new additional programme targeted specifically at addressing the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings that had built up after eighteen years of under-funding under the previous administration. This programme was bid-based and was in addition to other capital funds made available to Warrington local education authority (Cheshire local education authority prior to local government reorganisation in 1998–99). NDS ran through four phases from 1997–98 to 2000–01. Table A shows the schools in the Warrington, North constituency which benefited from investment through the original NDS programme for these purposes. From 2001–02 most capital funding available for building improvements in schools has been allocated to local authorities and schools by needs-related formulae. It is for local authorities and schools to decide how their capital allocations are invested and prioritised between projects, in line with their local asset management planning. Also, from 2000–01 every school has received direct capital allocations to address their highest priorities. In addition, each year authorities have been able to bid for Basic Need funding for the provision of new pupil places. Table B shows all capital funding for school buildings allocated to Warrington local education authority (including voluntary aided schools) since 1998–99.
	
		Table A: New deal for schools -- £
		
			 Allocations to schools in the Warrington North constituency 
		
		
			  
			  
			 NDS1 1997–98 St Philip's Westbrook CofE Aided Primary School Construction of extension to existing teaching area LEA-wide grant *971,000 
			 NDS1 1997–98 Warrington St Ann's CofE Primary School External adaptations to form a new SEN room LEA-wide grant  
			 NDS3 1999–2000 St Stephen's Catholic Primary School Provision of nursery toilet  1,053 
			 NDS3 1999–2000 Beamont Community Junior School Replacement of dining room Project including two schools *386,100 
			 NDS3 1999–2000 Beamont Community Infant School Replacement of dining room Project including two schools  
			 NDS4 2000–01 Woolston Community High School Science and technology block to replace deteriorating mobiles  424,000 
		
	
	* Denotes allocations made to package projects to the local authority, which will be able to advise the value of projects at schools in the Warrington, North constituency which benefited from these allocations.
	
		Table B: Warrington local education authority capital allocations  -- £ million
		
			  Total 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998–99 3.3 
			 1999–2000 4.2 
			 2000–01 7.9 
			 2001–02 8.1 
			 2002–03 8.3 
			 2003–04 8.8 
			 Grand total 40.6

Student Grants

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate (a) the sum available in the Higher Education White Paper for student grants for each year of the spending review and (b) the cost of the Excellence in Cities Opportunity Bursary schemes in each year; and whether the bursary scheme will remain available to top up grants.

Margaret Hodge: The Government has earmarked almost £300 million in funds for the new Higher Education Grant. The Grant will be phased in, cohort by cohort, starting in autumn 2004, and therefore, during this spending review period, the costs will gradually build up towards that level of expenditure.
	£37 million has been set aside to provide up to 26,000 opportunity bursaries over the three years starting in 2001–02. 2003 is the last year of the opportunity bursaries pilot; it is being replaced by the new grant. Students with opportunity bursaries will remain eligible to receive their payments in years two and three of the course, when the new grant is introduced.

Tuition Fees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates he has made of the extra income that will be received under the proposed £3,000 tuition fee limit; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: It will be for each university and college to decide what fees they charge from 2006 subject to securing an acceptable access agreement. The extra income raised will depend on those decisions.

Teachers

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers (a) left and (b) joined the teaching profession in Essex between May 1997 and the latest available date.

David Miliband: The following table shows the numbers of teachers leaving 1 full-time or part time 2 service in the maintained schools sector and teachers entering or returning 3 to full-time or part-time teaching in the maintained schools sector in Essex.
	The DfES annual survey of teachers in service (618G) shows that the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers working in the maintained sector in Essex rose from 10,580 to 10,920 between January 1998 and January 2002.
	
		
			 Essex Leavers Entrants/returners 
		
		
			 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1994(9) 1,190 1,290 
			 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 1,090 950 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000(10) 970 1,040 
		
	
	(6) Leavers are those who were in full-time or part-time teaching in the maintained schools sector immediately before the period shown, who were not in service in that sector at the end of the period shown. Teachers leaving are based on pension returns. Some teachers may have moved from known service to service not recorded on the teacher pension return. Some leavers will be taking career breaks and will return to service at a later date.
	(7) Around 10 per cent.–20 per cent. of part-timers may not be included.
	(8) Those in service in the maintained schools sector at the end of the period shown who were not in service in that sector in England immediately before the period shown. Includes newly qualified entrants, those who deferred entry and those returning from breaks or transferring from outside the maintained schools sector in England.
	(9) Higher than usual numbers of premature retirements, following changes to the retirement regulations, contributed to the high levels of leavers in 1997–98.
	(10) The most recent data available at LEA level are for 1999–2000.

Teachers

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were employed in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the (i) City of York and (ii) North Yorkshire education authority in each year since they were established.

David Miliband: The table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in the maintained sector, as at January of each year.
	
		
			 Schools 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 City of York   
			 Nursery/primary 630 610 630 650 650 680 
			 Secondary 600 600 600 640 660 650 
			 North Yorkshire   
			 Nursery/primary 2,140 2,060 2,100 2,170 2,230 2,270 
			 Secondary 2,340 2,400 2,470 2,550 2,590 2,570 
		
	
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	DfES Annual Survey of Teachers in Service (618G)

PRIME MINISTER

Operation Ore

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has been informed of the identity of any of the individuals under investigation as part of Operation Ore.

Tony Blair: It is Government policy not to comment on ongoing police investigations.

TREASURY

Budget

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis he chose this year's Budget date.

Dawn Primarolo: Budgets are traditionally held in either March or April.

Landfill Tax

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, how much transitional funding is available in the year commencing 1 April 2003 through the landfill tax credit scheme for eligible projects falling into Objects C and/or CC in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland and (e) Northern Ireland.

John Healey: The transition funding for England comes from England's share of the £100 million that the reform of the LTCS made available for 2003–04, as announced in PBR 2002. The devolved Administrations will be allocated their share of this £100 million according to the Barnett formula and will determine how this is spent.

National Insurance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 12 March 2003, Official Report, column 283W, on national insurance, if he will publish the estimates made by the Government Actuary's Department regarding changes to benefit rates and contribution rates.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the "Report by the Government Actuary on the Drafts of the Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 2003 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2003", published in February 2003. A copy is held in the House Library.

Service Pensions

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to delay the payment of service pensions until a serviceman reaches 65 years.

Lewis Moonie: I have been asked to reply.
	The Pensions Green Paper, "Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement" was published for consultation in December of last year and includes a proposal that the age at which unreduced pensions should be payable to members of Public Service Pension Schemes should be raised from age 60 to 65, to reflect increasing longevity and common practice in the private sector. The paper acknowledges that some occupations require a recognised physical capacity which justifies payment of pension at a lower age and the Armed Forces pay an immediate pension as early as age 37. However, for those members who leave before reaching such an age, their pensions benefits accrued through future service from a date to be decided would also be deferred to age 65. The Ministry of Defence will be offering its comments on this and other proposals put forward in the Green Paper shortly.

Special Advisers

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

Ruth Kelly: The rules relating to special advisers' political activities are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Further guidance in respect of elections for the Scottish Parliament is set out at paragraph 13 of the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.
	The reasons for a special adviser's resignation are a private matter between the Department and adviser, and are therefore exempt from disclosure under paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Information.

Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were received by the working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit dedicated telephone line for hon. Members and members of the devolved administrations in each year since its creation; and what the cost of the line has been in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: In October 2000, the Inland Revenue introduced the dedicated Hotline numbers for queries from MPs and members of the devolved assemblies about working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit. For the remainder of the 2000–2001 financial year, there were 234 calls to the Hotline. In the 2001–2002 financial year there were 418 calls. Between April 2002 and early March 2003, there have been 314 calls. Advisers on the Hotline also carry out a range of other customer service duties, and so it is not possible to isolate the cost of the Hotlines.

Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were received by the working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit public telephone line in each year since its creation; and what the cost of the line has been in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The schedule below gives details of the number of calls answered by the WFTC and DPTC helplines since they first opened.
	
		
			  WFTC Oct 1999to Dec 1999 WFTC Jan 2000to Dec 2000 WFTC Jan 2001to Dec 2001 WFTC Jan 2002to Dec 2002 WFTC Jan 2003to date 
		
		
			 Answered 1,037,915 6,115,528 5,882,380 6,060,443 813,187 
		
	
	
		
			  DPTC Oct 1999to Dec 1999 DPTC Jan 2000to Dec 2000 DPTC Jan 2001to Dec 2001 DPTC Jan 2002to Dec 2002 DPTC Jan 2003—to date 
		
		
			 Answered 35,935 207,946 227,568 232,389 39,356 
		
	
	An estimate of the staffing cost of the line in each year is given in the table.
	
		
			 Period £000s 
		
		
			 1/10/99 to 31/3/00 1,406 
			 1/4/00 to 31/3/01 6,511 
			 1/4/01 to 31/3/02 7,776 
			 1/4/02 to 28/2/03 7,223

Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department is spending on advertising the new (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit, with particular reference to (i) television advertising, (ii) radio advertising, (iii) leaflets, (iv) factsheets, (v) claim packs and (vi) A3 posters.

Dawn Primarolo: Spending on the promotional campaign for the new tax credits is currently estimated as follows: (i) media costs for:
	
		
			  (£000s) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Television advertisements 8,016 
			 Media costs for radio advertisements 876 
			 Leaflets 642 
			 Factsheets No costs to date 
			 A3 posters 21 
			 The cost of producing claim packs is estimated at: 4,031,000 
		
	
	All estimated costs include VAT. Postage costs are not included.

Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the take-up rate of the new (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 19 March 2003, Official Report, column 760W.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what means childless people have been alerted to their possible entitlement to claim working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The new tax credits—Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit—are introduced in April. A high-profile publicity campaign has been running since last autumn to alert people to their entitlement and to encourage them to claim. The campaign has so far included national television advertising, national and local radio advertising, adverts in the national press as well as on-line publicity. Treasury ministers led a series of roadshows across the United Kingdom in September and October. Leaflets and posters have been produced and are being made widely available. The Inland Revenue is also piloting new ways of working with local community groups to maximise take-up. At the same time Jobcentre Plus offices are making sure their clients are aware of the help they can get, through the Working Tax Credit, as they move into work.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Court of Protection (Portfolio Holdings)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average change was in the value of portfolio holdings held by the Court of Protection for minors, over the last four years.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Guardianship Office (PGO), is the administrative arm of the Court of Protection. It does not maintain detailed historic records of individual investment portfolios. Individual clients' investments are managed by private fund managers—either a panel broker under contract with the PGO, or of the clients' choosing. Brokers hold individual records but do not distinguish between minors and clients.
	It could be expected that on average, investment return from equity markets would have been broadly similar to that of the market generally. Over the past four years, the FTSE All Share Index fell from 2825.39 (end of February 1999) to 1731.50 (end of February 2003), a decline of 39 per cent. The performance of individual cases varies according to investments held.
	All of the minors have a proportion of their funds retained in the Special Account, a cash deposit account operated by the Court Funds Office, which pays a favourable rate of interest, currently 6 per cent.

European Court of Human Rights

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to make representations to the Council of Europe to secure an amendment to the European Court of Human Rights rules of procedure to the effect that detailed reasons for its decisions declaring cases inadmissible in committee are given.

Rosie Winterton: None. Whether reasons are given is a matter for the Court. The Court has ceased to write explanatory letters in these circumstances as part of its attempts to streamline its procedures in order to deal with its backlog of cases (35,000, and rising at the rate of 1,000 per month). Cases declared inadmissible by a Committee of three judges are often vexatious and clear-cut.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Departmental Website

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what the total cost of the Privy Council's website was in the last 12 months; and how many hits it received in the same period.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) announced the relaunch of the Department's website (www.pco.gov.uk) on 18 July 2002, Official Report, column 453W.
	The costs including development and design for the site since relaunch are £49,293.63. Costs prior to this date are not available but were negligible, since the design and content were produced in-house and not charged separately.
	Information on the number of hits is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of hits March 2002–03 
		
		
			 Unique visitors 232,805 
			 Page impressions 827,998 
		
	
	Since relaunch there has been a fourfold increase in the number of unique visitors and a twofold one in the number of page impressions.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Household Incomes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average household income is in each constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

Zoo-keepers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many zoo-keepers have been (a) injured and (b) killed by elephants in (i) zoos and (ii) safari parks in each year since 1973.

Nick Brown: The information requested is not available. The Health and Safety Executive's computer systems do not record information from statutory injury notifications at this level of detail.

Adult Disadvantage

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2002, Official Report, column 918W, on adult disadvantage, if he will re-calculate the figures to include retirement on 31 December 2002;
	(2)  if he will update the three tables to include figures for retirement on 31 December 2002.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is in the following tables.
	In the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 4 December, Official Report, column 918W, data in the final column was in 2000 earnings terms, but was mis-labelled as being in 2001 earnings terms. The column heading has now been corrected. Also, the table headings have been revised so as to, in each case, correctly describe the contents in the tables.
	Table 1, includes the data underlying the graph on page 19 of "Modernising Annuities" published by Inland Revenue and the Department for Work and Pensions in February, 2001. Although a stylised model, it is the data in this table that we believe best characterises the investment strategy of many pension funds.
	Given recent falls in the stock markets, table 3 (funds invested 100 per cent. in equities in all years) shows the largest fall in pension income when comparing the results for 2001 with 2002. However, it is highly unlikely that an individual fund will actually follow this particular investment strategy.
	Investors will also be interested in expected pension income throughout their retirement and not just the income in the first year. The information does not give an indication of how this first figure may have increased for successive cohorts of pensioners due to increased life expectancy.
	Some of the results for 2001 are marginally different to those presented in my previous answer. This is because the FTSE 30 and gilts indices for 2001 have since been revised.
	The assumptions involved in the current model are the same as those in my previous answer, and re-stated as follows:
	A person contributes to a pension fund for 31 years;
	Contributions are made at 10 per cent. of gross earnings;
	Earnings in each year are £20,000 in 2000 earnings terms. The earnings growth index was supplied by the Office for National Statistics;
	50 per cent. of each year's contributions are made at the start of each year and 50 per cent. at the end of each year;
	The return on equities is in line with the FTSE 30. The same figures were used in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 387, to enable consistency with that answer. The use of the FTSE 30 price index, however, may underestimate the returns on investing in equities, as this index takes account of capital gains/losses but excludes dividend payments.
	The return on gilts is in line with the Barclays Capital Total Return Index. The same figures were used in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 387, to enable consistency with that answer.
	A 1 per cent. fee is deducted at the end of each year
	Upon retirement on 31 December of the given year, an annuity is purchased at the prevailing rate in that year, and as indicated in the tables. The source of this is Annuity Direct.
	
		Table 1: Pension entitlement assuming the fund switches from equities to gilts over the last 10 years of growth—an extra 10 per cent. is invested in gilts in each successive year
		
			 Year startedcontributing Retire at endof year Years of contribution Lump sumbuilt up(cash terms) (£) Lump sum in 2000 earnings terms (£) Annuity rate in last year of contribution (Percentage) Pension at retirement (nominal terms, weekly) (£) Pension at retirement (2000 earnings terms, weekly) (£) 
		
		
			 1956 1986 31 17,683 38,722 14.1 48 105 
			 1957 1987 31 21,067 42,817 14.0 57 115 
			 1958 1988 31 23,846 44,535 13.7 63 117 
			 1959 1989 31 25,579 43,824 14.0 69 118 
			 1960 1990 31 27,868 43,492 15.2 82 128 
			 1961 1991 31 34,245 49,645 14.6 96 140 
			 1962 1992 31 41,172 56,338 13.2 105 143 
			 1963 1993 31 53,669 71,320 11.7 121 161 
			 1964 1994 31 47,500 60,909 11.6 106 135 
			 1965 1995 31 57,037 70,945 11.3 124 155 
			 1966 1996 31 60,722 72,903 11.0 129 155 
			 1967 1997 31 71,045 81,816 10.4 141 163 
			 1968 1998 31 85,603 93,818 9.4 155 169 
			 1969 1999 31 80,173 83,817 8.9 138 144 
			 1970 2000 31 85,445 85,445 9.1 149 149 
			 1971 2001 31 83,563 80,050 8.9 142 136 
			 1972 2002 31 87,400 80,836 7.5 126 117 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Pension entitlement assuming that 50 per cent. of the fund is invested in gilts in each of the last five years of growth
		
			 Year startedcontributing Retire at endof year Years of contribution Lump sumbuilt up(cash terms) (£) Lump sum in 2000 earnings terms (£) Annuity rate in last year of contribution (Percentage) Pension at retirement (nominal terms, weekly) (£) Pension at retirement (2000 earnings terms, weekly) (£) 
		
		
			 1956 1986 31 19,211 42,068 14.1 52 114 
			 1957 1987 31 20,988 42,656 14.0 56 115 
			 1958 1988 31 21,805 40,723 13.7 57 107 
			 1959 1989 31 26,912 46,107 14.0 72 124 
			 1960 1990 31 28,668 44,740 15.2 84 131 
			 1961 1991 31 35,407 51,329 14.6 99 144 
			 1962 1992 31 40,732 55,736 13.2 104 142 
			 1963 1993 31 46,843 62,248 11.7 106 140 
			 1964 1994 31 49,105 62,967 11.6 109 140 
			 1965 1995 31 53,293 66,287 11.3 116 144 
			 1966 1996 31 56,814 68,211 11.0 120 145 
			 1967 1997 31 61,249 70,535 10.4 122 140 
			 1968 1998 31 71,334 78,179 9.4 129 141 
			 1969 1999 31 79,662 83,284 8.9 137 143 
			 1970 2000 31 75,952 75,952 9.1 133 133 
			 1971 2001 31 71,305 68,308 8.9 122 116 
			 1972 2002 31 62,786 58,071 7.5 91 84 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Pension entitlement assuming the fund remains in equities in all years
		
			 Year startedcontributing Retire at endof year Years of contribution Lump sumbuilt up(cash terms) (£) Lump sum in 2000 earnings terms (£) Annuity rate in last year of contribution (Percentage) Pension at retirement (nominal terms, weekly) (£) Pension at retirement (2000 earnings terms, weekly) (£) 
		
		
			 1956 1986 31 20,111 44,039 14.1 54 119 
			 1957 1987 31 25,477 51,779 14.0 68 139 
			 1958 1988 31 23,489 43,868 13.7 62 116 
			 1959 1989 31 29,434 50,428 14.0 79 136 
			 1960 1990 31 29,462 45,980 15.2 86 135 
			 1961 1991 31 33,097 47,981 14.6 93 135 
			 1962 1992 31 34,377 47,039 13.2 87 120 
			 1963 1993 31 41,058 54,562 11.7 92 123 
			 1964 1994 31 44,526 57,095 11.6 99 127 
			 1965 1995 31 46,353 57,656 11.3 101 126 
			 1966 1996 31 52,049 62,490 11.0 110 132 
			 1967 1997 31 57,522 66,242 10.4 114 132 
			 1968 1998 31 67,342 73,804 9.4 122 133 
			 1969 1999 31 74,254 77,629 8.9 128 133 
			 1970 2000 31 69,934 69,934 9.1 122 122 
			 1971 2001 31 58,700 56,232 8.9 100 96 
			 1972 2002 31 43,036 39,804 7.5 62 58

Benefit Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to publish the Office of Government Commerce gateway review into the transfer of benefit payments to automated credit transfer;
	(2)  when the Office of Government Commerce follow-up gateway review into the transfer of benefit payments to automated credit transfer will be completed; and what plans he has to publish the results.

Malcolm Wicks: The Office of Government Commerce issued the results of the April 2002 review into the transfer of benefit payments to payment direct into bank and building society accounts to the Department in May 2002.
	The follow-up gateway review is provisionally scheduled for April 2003, one year after the original review, the results of which will again be issued to the Department.
	Further dissemination of the review is subject to the Code of Practice on Access to Official Information.

Benefit Payment

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that financial advice is available to those persuaded to open bank accounts for the first time by the changes in benefit and pension distribution through the Post Office.

Malcolm Wicks: Government Departments and the Post Office will provide customers with full factual information about their banking options but are not qualified to and must not advise customers on which account is most suitable. It is for customers to choose which account best meets their needs and circumstances. Customers who are having difficulty deciding which account is best for them can seek advice from independent organisations.

Benefit Payment

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit claimants have migrated from direct payment to automated credit transfer in each month since January 2002, broken down into recipients of each major benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Such information, as is available on the number of accounts that have migrated from paper based methods of payment to direct payment into a bank or building society account in each month since January 2002, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Benefit 15 June to13 July 2002 14 July to10 August 2002 11 August to7 September 2002 8 September to5 October 2002 6 October to2 November 2002 
		
		
			 Jobseekers Allowance 3,144 3,220 3,343 3,246 3,549 
			 Income Support 6,918 6,772 5,938 6,611 6,801 
			 Incapacity Benefit — 2,851 2,032 — 3,514 
			 Severe Disablement — 415 302 — 459 
			 Allowance Industrial Injuries — 47 471 541 531 
			 Widows Benefit — 273 195 — 321 
			 Bereavement Benefit (— 47 30 — 54 
			 Disability Living Allowance 7,870 2,740 3,343 3,704 4,136 
			 Attendance Allowance — 770 442 479 541 
			 Invalid Care Allowance 1,108 — — — 1,080 
			 Retirement Pension — 12,799 10,032 — 16,253 
			 Minimum Income Guarantee 3,236 3,089 2,783 2,760 3,014 
			 Child Benefit 7,659 9,296 7,146 7,357 9,373 
			 War Pensions 1,427 — — — — 
			 Total GB Benefit Accounts 31,362 42,319 36,057 24,698 49,626 
		
	
	
		
			 Benefit 3 November to30 November 2002 1 December to28 December 2002 29 December 2002 to 25 January 2003 26 January to22 February 2003 
		
		
			 Jobseekers Allowance 3,804 4,149 3,705 5,083 
			 Income Support 7,715 5,087 6,215 9,186 
			 Incapacity Benefit — 3,665 — 3,920 
			 Severe Disablement — 602 — 591 
			 Allowance Industrial Injuries 511 462 412 675 
			 Widows Benefit — 309 — 292 
			 Bereavement Benefit — 45 — 60 
			 Disability Living Allowance 3,964 2,720 3,047 5,064 
			 Attendance Allowance 495 419 408 612 
			 Invalid Care Allowance — — — 1,173 
			 Retirement Pension — 18,754 — 20,934 
			 Minimum Income Guarantee 3,455 2,513 2,929 4,403 
			 Child Benefit 7,906 9,572 4,725 8,081 
			 War Pensions — 2,154 — 929 
			 Total GB Benefit Accounts 27,850 50,451 21,441 61,003 
		
	
	The figures compare information available at one date to the next, and are only available from 15 June 2002.
	Some benefit data are received less frequently than four weekly.
	Where there are no figures, these will be included in the next period for which figures are shown, as the calculation cannot be done until the data is received.
	People in receipt of more than one benefit may have those benefits combined to a single benefit account. Figures are in terms of these accounts.

Benefit Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances follow-up phone calls are made by his Department to benefit recipients who opt not to receive payment by automated credit transfer into a bank account; how many such calls have so far been made; how many individuals have opted for ACT in response to such calls; how many staff are employed making calls, and at what cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We are not currently re-contacting customers who have received letters inviting them to move to direct payment and have responded to opt not to be paid this way. We are, however, following up the invitation letters where customers have not responded. In some cases this is by a follow-up telephone call as part of the work undertaken by the Direct Payment Centre. This centre currently employs around 190 staff. Up until 17 March, 122,704 follow up calls have been made.
	The Department set up the Direct Payment Centre to handle the conversion to direct payment. This is a managed service that deals with telephone calls, the distribution of invitation letters and the collation of information when customers details are received. We can therefore not differentiate between these functions to provide costings.

Benefit Payment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2003, Official Report, columns 761–62W, if he will place in the Library copies of information sent from his Department to benefit recipients.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 6 November 2003, Official Report, column 406W. The latest version of the information will be issued from 1 April and will be placed in the Library thereafter.

Benefit Payment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people collect benefits from post offices in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: Information available on the number of people that receive benefits by a method of payment collectable from post offices as at 25 January 2003 is in the table. Included in these figures are customers paid by Girocheque. Girocheques are encashable either at a post office or they can be paid into a bank or building society account.
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the post office. There are no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.
	
		
			  Total benefit recipients Payable at post offices 
		
		
			 Jarrow constituency 35,911 26,511 
			 South Tyneside 68,886 51,931 
			 North East 1,073,900 747,964 
			 Great Britain 21,641,051 12,456,733 
		
	
	1. People in receipt of more than one benefit may have those benefits combined to a single benefit account. Figures are in terms of these accounts.
	2. Figures for Great Britain are for England, Scotland and Wales. Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office.
	3. The 'Payable at post offices' column represents customers who have their benefit paid either entirely by paper method, or at least one of their benefits is by paper if they are receiving a combination of benefits and some are being paid direct.

Benefit Payment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to inform benefit claimants to be affected by the change in payment method about the steps needed to register for a post office card account;
	(2)  what arrangements are in place to cater for benefit or pension recipients who do not specify their preferred payment method at the end of the changeover to the new payment system.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is mailing customers affected individually to inform them of the move to Direct Payment. This activity began in October 2002 with mailings to Child Benefit and War Pension customers. In addition to this we are planning to run national and regional press advertising this month and plan further advertising from May onwards. This aims to educate our customers about what is changing, the options they have and the action they should take. It will be up to the individual to decide what the best option for their circumstances will be.
	It has always been recognised that there will be a small number of people who will not be able to be paid directly into an account. We are currently exploring alternative ways in which these customers could receive their money.

Benefit Payment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit claimants in (a) each region and (b) each local authority have opted to collect their benefit payments using (i) post office card accounts, (ii) basic bank accounts and (c) current bank accounts.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information that is available shows that as at 28 February 2003, over 447,226 customers have responded to our letters and opted for payment into a bank or building society account. This is made up of 393,847 child benefit customers, 51,806 veterans agency customers and 1,573 pensions customers.
	As at 28 February 2003, 1,218,916 customer invitation letters have been issued. From the invitation letters issued 90,711 customers have responded with a request for a Post Office card account.

Benefit Payment

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Essex and (b) the West Chelmsford constituency collect benefits from Post Offices.

Malcolm Wicks: Information available on pensioners as at 25 January 2003 in (a) Essex and (b) West Chelmsford constituency receiving their benefits by a method of payment collectable at Post Office is shown in the following table. Included in these figures are customers paid by Girocheque. Girocheques are encashable either at a post office or they can be paid into a bank or building society account.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Essex 122,192 
			 West Chelmsford 7,621 
		
	
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at Post Offices through the network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There is no data available on the number of benefit claims collected this way.

Benefit Payment

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Essex and (b) the West Chelmsford constituency have migrated from over the counter benefit payments to direct bank transfers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Such information as is available on pensioners as at 25 January 2003 in (a) Essex and (b) West Chelmsford constituency, that have migrated to receiving at least one type of benefit, from payments collectable at post offices to payment into a bank or building society account, is shown in the table. The figures are a comparison between those of 25 January and the same records approximately 12 weeks earlier. Included in these figures are customers paid by Girocheque. Girocheques are encashable either at a post office, or they can be paid into a bank or building society account.
	
		
			  Number of pensioners 
		
		
			 Essex 1,317 
			 West Chelmsford 76 
		
	
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There is no data available on the number of benefit claims collected this way.

Benefit Payment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps have been taken to promote the use of (a) a Post Office card account, (b) a current account and (c) a basic account for receiving benefit payments following the introduction of ACT; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 662W.

Benefits Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claims made to the Benefits Agency were delayed because of papers lost or mislaid by the Agency in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Brown: The information requested is not available.
	In April 2002, we launched Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions Service, replacing the Benefits Agency. The Department and its Agencies are committed to providing a high level of customer service and have published customer charters setting out the level of service that customers can expect to receive.
	Both Agencies treat all post and claim forms as confidential items taking all necessary action resulting from that post, both promptly and accurately. If a customer reports that an item of post has not been actioned, Agency staff will check to ensure that it has not been misplaced within the office. If a claim to benefit is delayed because the Agencies have lost forms or papers they will make every effort to ensure that the customer does not suffer unduly by rectifying the situation as quickly as possible. In a case of maladministration where a customer suffers financial loss, stress or is put to additional inconvenience, the Agencies can, in addition, make financial redress through our special payments schemes.

Business Bureaucracy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the forms that his Department requires private sector businesses to complete and return.

Malcolm Wicks: A list of forms that the Department for Work and Pensions, including the Health and Safety Executive requires private sector business to complete has been placed in the Library. This list excludes forms used with contracted providers, and those providing professional services, such as general practitioners, building societies and banks.
	The Government's aim is to eliminate unnecessary regulation, and to minimise the burdens imposed by regulation. It is committed to reducing, wherever possible, existing regulatory burdens, and to minimising the impact on business of any new legislation.

Pensions Consultation

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when and where the West Midland Regional DWP consultation meeting scheduled for 3 April will take place; who may attend; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Government are conducting the largest consultation ever mounted on pensions issues. To ensure the widest possible range of views are sought they have established a partnership with Age Concern and the Co-operative Insurance Society to consult on the proposals in the Pensions Green Paper, "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement", Cm 5677. The aim of this tier of consultation is to reach individuals, groups and organisations that may not ordinarily have the opportunity to air their views direct to Ministers. A series of consultation events will take place, one in each of the Government Office Regions in England, one in Wales and one in Scotland.
	Arrangements for the whole series of meetings have yet to be finalised. However the event for the West Midlands GOR will be held on 3 April at the Copthorne Merry Hotel in Dudley. Attendance is by invitation only.
	Age Concern and CIS will identify and issue invitations to people in the following groups. Some invitations for the West Midlands event have already been issued.
	Local business interests and representative groups
	Local trade union representatives
	Representatives of local ethnic minority groups
	Representatives of LA and voluntary welfare rights and advice organisations
	Local CAB
	Local Help the Aged
	Representatives of local older peoples' representative organisations
	Local financial advisers
	Mothers' Union
	Representation from local government
	Credit unions
	One parent families
	Gay/lesbian rights groups
	Monetary Advice Trust—Scotland
	Regional representatives from the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF)
	Regional Co-op Societies
	Regional CBI offices
	Other organisations with the Departments prior agreement
	A small number of people/organisations will be invited by the local Pension Service.

Departmental Budget

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the percentage share of his Department's total spending accounted for by (a) pensions, (b) disability related benefits, (c) unemployment benefits, (d) child benefits and (e) housing benefits in each year from 1982–83 to 2002–03, estimated.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the following table:
	
		Share of expenditure on type of benefit shown, Great Britain, financial years -- Percentage of total
		
			 Child benefits  
			  Pensions Disability benefits Unemployment benefits Excluding IRB* child elements Including IRB* child elements Housing benefits 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1982–83 47 2 13 12 n/a 10 
			 1983–84 45 2 14 12 n/a 11 
			 1984–85 44 3 14 12 n/a 11 
			 1985–86 44 3 14 11 n/a 11 
			 1986–87 43 3 14 11 n/a 11 
			 1987–88 44 4 12 10 n/a 11 
			 1988–89 45 4 9 10 n/a 11 
			 1989–90 46 4 7 10 n/a 12 
			 1990–91 45 4 7 9 n/a 13 
			 1991–92 43 5 9 8 12 12 
			 1992–93 41 5 10 8 12 13 
			 1993–94 40 6 9 8 12 14 
			 1994–95 39 7 8 8 12 15 
			 1995–96 39 8 7 8 12 15 
			 1996–97 39 9 5 8 12 15 
			 1997–98 41 9 4 8 12 15 
			 1998–99 42 9 3 8 12 14 
			 1999–2000 43 10 3 8 12 14 
			 2000–01 45 10 3 9 12 14 
			 2001–02 46 10 2 8 12 13 
			 2002–03 46 10 2 8 12 14 
		
	
	* IRBs: Income-related benefits—income support, income based jobseeker's allowance family credit and disability working allowance.
	Notes and definitions:
	(a) "Pensions" includes retirement pension, minimum income guarantee and its predecessors, winter fuel payments and over 75 TV licences. Expenditure on over 75 TV licences includes Northern Ireland.
	(b) Disability-related benefits include disability living allowance, attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalid care allowance, independent living funds and vaccine damage payments.
	(c) Unemployment benefits include jobseeker's allowance, unemployment benefit, and income support/supplementary benefit for the unemployed.
	(d) Child benefits include child benefit (including lone parent addition), one parent benefit, guardian's allowance and child's special allowance, plus child-related elements of income support, jobseeker's allowance, family credit and disability working allowance in the second of the two columns.
	(e) Housing-related benefits include housing benefit, council tax benefit, community charge benefit and rate rebate, including those elements of expenditure financed within local authorities' housing revenue accounts and general funds.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest whole per cent.
	Source:
	Departmental accounts and estimated out-turn underlying the pre-Budget 2002 forecasts.

Domestic Violence

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial support is available for spouses and their dependants who are seeking exceptional leave to remain on the basis of the domestic violence concession.

Malcolm Wicks: Provided that the Home Office is satisfied that a marriage has broken down due to domestic violence, it can apply a concession to the immigration rules (during the probationary one-year period), giving the victim indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. This provision allows victims of domestic violence to claim social security benefits.

Employers Liability Insurance

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of responses to the consultation on employers liability insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I gave on 12 December 2002, Official Report, columns 23–24WS. The Department is in the process of assessing the responses to the consultation undertaken as part of the review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance which is due to report in the spring.

Incomes (Blackpool, North and Fleetwood)

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income is in the constituency of Blackpool, North and Fleetwood.

Nick Brown: The information is not available. Information on average income is available at a national level from the Department's Family Resources Survey but sample sizes and other limitations mean that the information cannot be regarded as robust at regional and sub-regional level.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list IT contracts in his Department and its predecessors above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

Ian McCartney: The information is as follows:
	1. Contract: Modernising Employment Service. Employment Services outsourcing its IT work in a partnership agreement with Electronic Data Systems (EDS). This agreement was revised to reflect major new investment in IT and telephony to improve services for jobless people and employers in the Modernising Employment Service (MES) Project.
	Inception Dates: August 1998—original outsourcing: October 2000—MES.
	Dates fully functional: August 1998
	Cost over-runs: None.
	2. Contract: ACCORD Strategic Outsourcing Business Allocation (SOBA). The Department of Social Security awarded a contract to outsource all its IT provision. This contract also encompasses business outsourced previously in 1995 under Focus 95 arrangements, and is concerned with the maintenance, development and operation of the Department's existing IT systems.
	Inception Date: 8 August 2000.
	Date Fully Functional: 1 September 2000
	Cost over-runs: None.
	3. Contract: Child Support Reforms (CSR). The Department of Social Security awarded the contract, to provide new IT systems in support of the Child Support Agency. From 27 January 2003, new child support claims have been processed on existing rules. Processing claims on new rules is scheduled to begin on 3 March 2003, consequently the system is not yet fully operational.
	Inception Date: 8 August 2000.
	Date Fully Functional: 27 January 2003
	Cost over-runs: The amount the Department will pay has risen by around 7 per cent. over the term of the contract.
	4. Contract: Early Office Infrastructure (EOI). These are a series of contracts to replace the desktops and associated equipment for the Departments employees and eventually the support arrangements for that kit. Two contracts of over £50 million have been awarded to date.
	i) Mobilisation contract to build the infrastructure for the support.
	Inception Date: January 2001.
	Date Fully Functional: This is an IT service contract, not an IT development contract. There have been a number of contact changes to build volumes and functionality
	Cost over-runs: Unable to identify any true cost over-runs at this stage as project not complete.
	ii) Rollout contract to manage the implementation of the kit and associated equipment.
	Inception Date: July 2001.
	Date fully functional: This is an IT service contract, not an IT development contract. The original contract has been subject to extension.
	Cost over-runs: Unable to identify any true cost over-runs at this stage as project not complete.
	5. Contract: New Tax Credits (NTC). The contract is for the delivery of new and amended DWP IT to enable joint working with the Inland Revenue on NTC and to reflect the changes in benefit rules resulting from the introduction of NTC.
	Inception Date: 13 December 2002.
	Date Fully Functional: Expected to be fully functional on 7 April 2003.
	Cost over-runs: None
	6. Contract: Lots B, C and D. These outsourcing contracts let for support and implementation of Office Services to SEMA Group UK Ltd. (Lots B and C) and International Computers Ltd.
	Inception Date: 14 June 1995. Contracts transferred to BT Arcway on 24 August 2000 under the ACCORD framework.
	Date fully functional: 14 June 1995. These are IT service contracts, not IT development therefore no formal date for acceptance testing.
	Cost over-runs: None.
	7. Contract: NOSP WAN. The Wide Area Network business allocation via BT provides network access to the former DSS estate.
	Inception Date: 23 November 2000
	Date fully functional: Ongoing
	Cost over-runs: None.
	The information relates to contractual arrangements made by the Department for Work and Pensions, the former Employment Services and the former Department for Social Security.
	On the question of "debugging", the view is that no IT system is completely free from "bugs". However, the Department deals with these according to priority, working in partnership with private sector providers to eradicate on an ongoing basis.
	A list of IT contracts current at the time of Focus 95 outsourcing is available in the Library. Information prior to 1995 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of expenditure on the minimum income guarantee if there is (a) 100 per cent., (b) 95 per cent., (c) 90 per cent. and (d) 85 per cent. take-up of the scheme.

Ian McCartney: Expenditure on the minimum income guarantee for 2002–03 is expected to be around £4.5 billion. This reflects the current number of MIG recipients recorded in administrative data and any fluctuations expected throughout the financial year.
	The Department does not produce forecasts of expenditure on the basis of different levels of take-up. An indication of the likely expenditure under different levels of take-up can be estimated using the Department's publication "Income-Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up in 1999–2000". This shows expenditure take-up of the MIG for 1999–2000 to be in the range of 74 per cent. to 86 per cent.
	Based on the midpoint of this range, and on the strong assumption that recent levels of expenditure take-up continue into the future, the table below provides an estimate of likely MIG expenditure under different levels of take-up. There is likely to be a wide margin of error around these estimates and they should only be used to provide an indication of the likely effect.
	
		Estimated MIG expenditure under different levels of take-up
		
			 Expenditure take-up level Estimated MIG expenditure(£ billion) 
		
		
			 100 per cent. 5.6 
			 95 per cent. 5.3 
			 90 per cent. 5.1 
			 85 per cent. 4.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The assumption has been made that the take-up levels requested relate to expenditure levels and not the case load level.
	2. All figures are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	3. Expenditure for 2002–03 is based on PBR 2002 forecasts.

New Deal (Fraud)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the (a) average annual and (b) total level of (i) erroneous payments and (ii) fraud connected with the New Deal to date; how much of this money has been recovered; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Since the inception of the New Deals, all allegations of fraud have been followed up and fully investigated if the circumstances warranted it. Information on the level of erroneous payments is recorded by benefit, not by programme. Similarly, the level of fraud committed by participants in the New Deal is recorded by benefit, not by programme. However, in 1998 we established the Jobcentre Plus Contractor and Programme Investigation Unit, as part of the Counter Fraud Investigation Division. The unit's work includes the investigation of all allegations of fraud committed by contractors under the New Deal. The available information is in the table.
	
		Allegations of fraud committed by contractors engaged through the New Deal, April 1998 to November 2002
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 April-November 2002 Totals 
		
		
			 Number of allegations 165 283 570 390 461 1,869 
			 Number that went to full investigation Not available Not available 62 99 117 278 
			 Estimated loss (£) Not available Not available 520,206.25 1,030,894.17 233,471.09 1,784,571.51 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information on the number of allegations that went to full investigation and on the estimated loss for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	2. The information concerning recovery of this money is not available.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Contractor and Programme Investigation Unit.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if her Department will make contingency plans in the case of a shortfall in an occupational pension scheme to prevent a UK subsidiary of an overseas group abandoning the scheme and not meeting any funding shortfall.

Ian McCartney: Provisions already exist to prevent companies from abandoning and not meeting any funding shortfall in occupational pension schemes. If a salary-related pension scheme is operating with tax approval, and is subject to the Minimum Funding Requirement (MFR), then a wide range of requirements under the Pensions Act 1995 apply to that scheme. This includes the funding of the scheme as determined by the MFR, and the requirement to maintain a schedule of contributions. The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) has the power to sanction scheme managers or trustees who fail to take reasonable steps to comply with these requirements.
	Also, legislation provides that when a salary-related scheme winds up, or a sponsoring employer becomes insolvent, any deficiency in the pension fund becomes a debt on the employer. This provides a mechanism for the trustees to be able to take action to pursue the debt.
	The pensions Green Paper, ' Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement', Cm 5677, published on 17 December, discusses two options (the full buy-out option and the partial buy-out option) for changes to the debt on the employer provisions that might result in more funds being put into a scheme when a solvent employer chooses to wind it up. This would strengthen protection for scheme members, however this needs to be balanced against the costs on employers.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he gives on protection for members of occupational pension schemes operated by companies whose parent company is listed overseas.

Ian McCartney: The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) produces guides to help pension scheme trustees understand some of the legal and technical issues involving pensions law. It also provides fact sheets for members of occupational pension schemes.
	If a salary-related pension scheme is operating with tax approval, and is subject to the Minimum Funding Requirement (MFR), then a wide range of requirements under the Pensions Act 1995 apply to that scheme. This includes the funding of the scheme as determined by the MFR, the requirement to maintain a schedule of contributions and, when a salary-related scheme winds up, or a sponsoring employer becomes insolvent, any deficiency in the pension fund becomes a debt on the employer. That fact that the parent company of the principal employer sponsoring the pension scheme may be listed overseas is therefore not directly relevant.
	The protection that people receive if their pension scheme is wound up is important, and we need to do more to protect the rights of scheme members. That is why we are consulting on proposals within the pensions Green Paper 'Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement', published on 17 December, aimed at improving protection for scheme members on wind up. This includes proposals to share out scheme assets more fairly, introduce some form of insurance and strengthen protection for members whose solvent employer chooses to wind up its scheme.
	We are consulting on our Green Paper, 'Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement', Cm 5677 at the moment, and the consultation period runs until 28 March 2003.

Parliamentary Questions

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer written questions (a) 97909 and (b) 97910 of 12 February tabled by the hon. Member for Perth.

Ian McCartney: Answers were given to the hon. Member on 19 March.

Passive Smoking

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effects on workers of passive smoking in the workplace.

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to assess the number of workers exposed to second hand smoke in the workplace.

Nick Brown: Research by the Department of Health's Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) into the general effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is continuing.
	The results of a survey on smoking behaviour and attitudes, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics in 2002, are due to be published on behalf of the Department of Health this summer.

Pensioners

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of total public expenditure has been spent on (a) retirement pensions, (b) winter fuel payments, (c) means-tested benefits for pensioners, (d) other benefits for pensioners and (e) free television licences in each year since 1992–93.

Ian McCartney: The information required is given in the table.
	
		
			 Percentage ofTotal ManagedExpenditure Retirement pensions(11) Winter fuel payments Income related benefits(12) Other benefits(13) Over 75 TV licence 
		
		
			 1992–93 10.31  2.05 0.05  
			 1993–94 10.42  2.21 0.05  
			 1994–95 10.16  2.19 0.05  
			 1995–96 10.09  2.14 0.04  
			 1996–97 10.45  2.11 0.05  
			 1997–98 10.67 0.06 2.08 0.04  
			 1998–99 10.90 0.06 2.00 0.04  
			 1999–2000 11.13 0.22 2.02 0.04  
			 2000–01 10.64 0.48 2.02 0.04 0.08 
			 2001–02 10.78 0.43 2.05 0.03 0.09 
			 2002–03(14) 10.64 0.41 1.98 0.03 0.09 
		
	
	(11) Includes pension age expenditure on widows/bereavement benefits; Severe disablement allowance; and invalidity/incapacity benefit (prior to 2001–02).
	(12) Income related benefits include the minimum income guarantee and housing benefit and council tax benefit paid to people aged 60 or over.
	(13) Other benefits comprise Christmas bonus (contributory and non-contributory).
	(14) Based on forecast expenditure.
	Notes
	Percentages have been calculated using total managed expenditure, which includes Government departmental expenditure limits and annually managed expenditure, based on pre-Budget report 2002 figures. Apart from benefits mentioned in note
	(15) contains no data relating to expenditure on disability benefits.

Pensions Commission

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times the pensions commission had met by the latest date for which he has information.

Ian McCartney: As of 11 March, the pensions commission has met twice.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April.

Ian McCartney: Departmental business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will make it its policy to ensure that its contract with SchlumbergerSema requires that only registered qualified sign language interpreters are used at medical examinations when making an assessment of sign language users.

Nick Brown: SchlumbergerSema Medical Services' current procedures adhere to the principle that the provision of interpreters is a customer led one.
	Therefore customers are given the option of either requesting a sign language interpreter or arranging for a friend or family member to interpret or sign for them.
	In the event that a customer elects for Medical Services to provide a Sign Language Interpreter, Medical Services' policy is to arrange for provision of a Qualified Signer to be obtained through the RNID helpline.
	The Department has no current plans to review this requirement.

Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contractual (a) obligations and (b) targets his Department has placed on SchlumbergerSema medical services for providing sign language interpreters for medical examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 14 March 2003
	The contract between the Department and SchlumbergerSema Medical Services defines deafness as a "Special Need" and specifies the following:
	SchlumbergerSema Medical Services shall comply with any reasonable request to accommodate claimants who have special needs
	When a special need is identified on the day of the examination appointment and the special need cannot be reasonably accommodated, SchlumbergerSema Medical Services shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that an alternative appointment is arranged within 24 hours of the special need being identified and shall ensure that the claimant's special needs will be accommodated at the new appointment.
	The target that the Department has set for SchlumbergerSema Medical Services in relation to special needs is that 95 per cent. of claimant's requirements will be met.

Social Fund

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he intends to (a) increase the Social Fund budget and (b) make other changes to the Social Fund, to cover potential cashflow problems for benefit claimants as they move to automated credit transfer.

Malcolm Wicks: On 27 November we announced that from April 2003, £90 million will be added to the discretionary Social Fund over the three years to 2005–06. This extra investment will enhance the Fund's ability to help those on low incomes manage their finances.
	The size of the gross national Social Fund budget, set at 1 April each year, is dependent on forecasts of the level of Social Fund loan recovery in the coming year. We will announce the 2003/04 budget once we are able to finalise details based on this forecast.
	The move to Direct Payment will be phased in over a two year period from April 2003. No changes are being made to benefit payment frequencies so that anyone currently receiving their benefit weekly can continue to do so when they move to Direct Payment. We do not anticipate any increase in Social Fund crisis loan applications because of Direct Payment and therefore have no plans to make any changes to the Social Fund.

Special Advisers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 1038.
	The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, parts of the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment service. Information on costs for 1994 to 2001 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department currently employs 16 (£1,065,233) press officers. A further 13 (£671,702) press officers work in the regions (England, Scotland and Wales) providing specific advice on local services that are now being rolled out.
	Last year the Department employed 21 press officers at a cost of £816,725. The cost for 2002–03 is a forecast spend for the whole year and includes the total staff costs in press office and regional network, including admin. staff.

Targeting Fraud Campaign

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the targeting fraud campaign has cost, broken down into expenditure on (a) the television and radio campaign, (b) advertising in the press, (c) evaluation of the campaign, (d) the website and (e) other costs.

Malcolm Wicks: The most recent Targeting Fraud advertising campaign took place between September 2001 and March 2002. The costs break down as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 TV advertising 5,061,680 
			 Press advertising 1,119,651 
			 Radio advertising 852,516 
			 Poster advertising 1,006,781 
			 Production 517,379 
			 Research (Evaluation) 257,150 
			 Total 8,833,157 
		
	
	These costs are exclusive of VAT. They include fees for placing the advertisements on the Targeting Fraud website. All design work for the website was undertaken by the in-house team and it is not possible to identify the cost separately.

Violence at Work

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures have been introduced to reduce violence at work.

Nick Brown: The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is committed to tackling the problem of work-related violence. In March 2000, HSC agreed a three-year programme to help reduce the number of incidents of violence at work. So far the programme has resulted in the publication of new guidance specifically aimed at small businesses; the development of new National Occupational Standards on work-related violence; a programme of inspections in the health care sector; new research to establish good practice for lone workers; and a major conference run jointly by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the TUC to help raise awareness of violence in the workplace.
	HSE has published general guidance for employers to help them tackle work-related violence, in accordance with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. HSE has also published sector-specific guidance covering health services, education, retail, banks and building societies.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Between that date and the end of 2002 the amount spent on accountancy services was £359,000.

Departmental Costs

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many people are employed in (a) the devolution and English regions division and (b) the international and policy division of the central policy group; what the cost of each was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the purposes of the Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group; how many people there are in the Group; and where it is based.

Christopher Leslie: The Devolution and Constitution Division and the International and Central Policy Divisions form part of the Central Strategy and Resources Directorate in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. A total of 24 people are employed and are based in 26 Whitehall. From July 2001 to June 2002 they formed the Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group in the Cabinet Office. The Devolution and Constitution Division oversees the relationship between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations; the International and Central Policy Division works across the Department on a range of international, regional and domestic policies, and a number of corporate issues, and provides advice to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and other Ministers and officials.
	In their current form the divisions have only been in operation since the creation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2002. Therefore there are no comparative figures yet available which cover a full financial year.

Firefighters' Dispute

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Fire Brigades Union on the effects of fire strikes on the training and readiness of HM Armed Forces for military operations.

Nick Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has met the Fire Brigades Union on a number occasions to discuss a variety of topics since the dispute began. He has made it clear that, while the Armed Forces have been, and continue to be, able to provide emergency cover, this has had an impact on their usual duties.

Government Initiatives

Francis Maude: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which central government schemes and initiatives since 1997 have required the formation of partnerships with local government to implement them.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are committed to working in partnership with local government in the development and implementation of policy, a principle enshrined in the Framework for Partnership agreed with the Local Government Association. Accordingly, partnerships with authorities of many different kinds have been involved in the implementation of a wide range of Government policies. The specific information requested could, however, be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Action

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many working days were lost owing to industrial action by staff in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

Christopher Leslie: There have been no working days lost by staff in 2002 as a result of industrial action in either the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, its agencies or non-departmental public bodies

Local Government Grant Settlement

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2003, Official Report, column 1202W, on the local government grant settlement, if he will list the specific and special grants to which he refers; which of them are ringfenced; what amount in cash terms is available for distribution to (a) local authorities and (b) other organisations for each; when he plans for bids to be submitted to him for a share of each grant; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The following table gives up-to-date details of specific and special grants announced for 2003–04. Some grants are bid for and successful bids receive allocations. The majority are allocated to all qualifying authorities by a formula or on an agreed basis. The definition of ring-fencing was updated last year to reflect the types of grant which now exist. Some grants previously classified as ring-fenced are not now classified in this way. The key distinction made remains that ring-fenced grants are those which restrict local authority spending. For completeness the following list includes all special grants inside Aggregate External Finance. Further details of classifications are in an annex to the freedoms and flexibilities announcement of 26 November. Under the terms of the freedoms and flexibilities announcement, from 2003–04, the majority of the grants in the following table are unfenced for excellent performers. Exceptions include those grants which must be passed to schools, and the supporting people grant, where in view of the legislative requirements, different arrangements are in place for removing ring-fencing for excellent performers.
	
		Details of Specific and Special Grant
		
			 Specific/Special Grant Department Ring-fenced? Bids? Amount available to local authorities in 2003–04 unless otherwise stated (millions) 
		
		
			 Education 
			 Standards Fund DfES Yes No 1,339 
			 Excellence in Cities DfES No No 219 
			 School Standards DfES No No 800 
			 Teachers' Pay Reform DfES Yes No 745 
			 Childcare DfES Yes No 230 
			 Leadership Incentive DfES Yes No 175 
			 Intervention in Failing LEAs DfES Yes No 5 
			 London Budget Support Grant DfES Yes No 11.29 
			  
			 Personal Social Services 
			 Carers DH Yes No 100 
			 Training Support Programme DH Yes Biddable Element—£13 million (deadline 25 April) 57 
			 National Training Strategy DH Yes No 25 
			 Preserved Rights DH No No 509 
			 Performance Fund DH Yes No 100 
			 Children's Services DH Yes No 557 
			 Human Resources Development Strategy DH Yes No 10 
			 Access & Systems Capacity DH Yes No 170 
			 Care Direct DH Yes No 5 
			 Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services DH Yes No 51 
			 Young People's Substance Misuse Planning DH Yes No 5 
			 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation DH Yes No 24 
			 Deferred Payments DH Yes No 40 
			 Mental Health DH Yes No 134 
			 AIDS Support DH Yes No 17 
			  
			 Police 
			 Crime Fighting Fund HO Yes No 238 
			 Outer London Pay Lead HO Yes No 10 
			 Rural Policing Fund HO Yes No 28 
			 Police Negotiating Board HO Yes Yes 36 
			 DNA Grant HO Yes Yes 9 
			 Basic Command Units HO Yes No 47 
			 London & South East Allowance HO Yes No 20 
			 London Travel HO Yes No 3 
			 Community Support Officers HO Yes Yes 39 
			 Officer Retention Over 30 Years HO Yes Yes 1 
			 Special Constables HO Yes Part 8 
			 Occupational Health HO Yes No 5 
			 Street Crime Initiative HO Yes Part 25 
			 Reform Deal HO Yes Yes 8 
			 Non Emergency Number HO Yes No 3 
			 National Intelligence Model HO Yes Yes 2 
			 Counter Terrorism HO Yes Yes 58 
			 Airwaves Communication Project HO Yes No 58 
			 Environment Protective and Cultural Services
			 Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit Administration DWP No No 321 
			 Supporting People ODPM Yes No 1,400 
			 Civil Defence CO Yes No 19 
			 Waste Re-Cycling Challenge DEFRA Yes No 40 
			 Personalised Travel Pilots DfT Yes Local Traffic Authorities, Passenger Transport Executives, Transport for London, BAA Heathrow invited to bid for funding in July 2002 0.586 
			 Roadside Vehicle Testing DfT Yes Yes, bids accepted at any time 4 
			 Travel Plan Bursaries DfT Yes No 3 
			 Probation Loan Charges DfT Yes No 3 
			 Neighbourhood Wardens ODPM Yes Yes, every 2½ years, although annual review/performance management takes place 21 (20 per cent. to otherorganisations—housingassociations, charitablegroups, police) 
			 Planning Delivery Grant ODPM No No 50 (46.9 to local authorities,3.1 to regional planningbodies) 
			 Magistrates Courts LCD Yes No 330 
			 Rural Bus Subsidy DfT Yes No 50 
			 Rural Bus Challenge DfT Yes Yes, most bids for funding in 2003–04 have been accepted in January 2003 and in earlier years of the competition, the future of this scheme has yet to be decided. 20 
			 Urban Bus Challenge DfT Yes Yes, most bids for funding in 2003–04 have been accepted in November 2002 and in earlier years of the competition, the future of this scheme has yet to be decided 20 
			 National Parks and Broads DEFRA Yes No 25 
			  
			 Capital 
			 PFI ODPM No No 340 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund ODPM No No 400 
			  
			 Unallocated 
			 GLA General Grant ODPM No No 35 
			 LPSA Reward ODPM No No 21

Departmental Travel

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times since 2001 he has taken flights within his departmental duties in the UK; how many of these were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each trip.

Christopher Leslie: Since 2001 my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has taken three scheduled business class UK flights, one accompanied by one person, another accompanied by two people and the third accompanied by three people. During this period he has taken one chartered helicopter flight accompanied by five people.
	All travel was undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Travel

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many overseas trips were undertaken by him and other Ministers since May 2001 itinerary, which officials and dignitaries they met; and what the itinerary was of each visit;
	(2)  how many regional visits within the United Kingdom were undertaken by him and other ministers since May 2001; and how many times he has visited (a) Wales and (b) Scotland since May 2001.

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was in each case.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) to the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

Departmental Travel

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress in his international work; and what overseas visits he made in the last 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister chaired the cabinet committee which prepared the UK's position for the world summit on sustainable development in South Africa and held a number of important bilateral meetings in connection with the summit. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also continues to undertake international work on behalf of the Prime Minister, and has held a number of meetings with visiting Ministers in London.
	In addition to his attendance at the summit in South Africa, right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has also visited Canada, Brazil, China, India, Denmark and
	Japan.

Social Housing Grant

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason his Department did not communicate directly with local authorities likely to be affected by the decision to abolish local authority social housing grant from 1 April, prior to the publication of the ministerial statement on 5 March.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consulted local authorities on the principle of abolishing local authority social housing grant last autumn. In the light of work on the communities plan, we decided to make this reform quickly—provided transitional arrangements were in place to ensure that well-advanced, good quality schemes were able to go ahead.
	In addition to two letters circulated to all local authorities in England outlining our decision, officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister held three face-to-face meetings with local authority representatives in February to discuss transitional funding.

Social Housing Grant

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the number of social housing schemes which will not proceed as a result of the abolition of the local authority social housing grant.

Tony McNulty: In my statement of 5 March I announced increased provision for transitional arrangements for local authority social housing grant (LASHG). Transitional funding will now support investment in social housing of up to £550 million—£50 million more than we provided in 2002–03 from LASHG, and higher than in any previous year. The number of affordable homes to be built in 2003–04 using this funding will not be known until after 30 June 2003, which is the deadline for both with-debt and debt-free authorities to submit new schemes for 2003–04 to the Housing Corporation.

Standards Board for England

Nick Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual budget is of the Standards Board for England.

Christopher Leslie: The annual budget of the Standards Board for 2002–03 is £7.9 million.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration Offences

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been detained by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on immigration offences at (a) Belfast port and (b) Larne port.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service does not routinely collect the information requested. A check of information which is held by Immigration Service would be time consuming and disproportionately expensive and would not, in any event, represent the full total of police arrests since a proportion of these may have originated, and have been recorded, as matters not related to immigration offences.

Ashfield Young Offenders Institution

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of raising the standards of Ashfield YOI to meet the requirements of PSO4950; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what offending behaviour programmes are available to prisoners at Ashfield YOI; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the capacity of Ashfield Young Offenders Institution is; and how many (a) young offenders and (b) juveniles are held there;
	(4)  what the timetable is for removing juveniles from Ashfield YOI;
	(5)  what plans he has to ensure that a resettlement strategy based upon the needs of juveniles and young offenders is put in place at (a) Ashfield Young Offenders Institution and (b) other YOIs, as recommended in the recent inspection report into Ashfield YOI;
	(6)  what special arrangements are in place to accommodate juveniles who have been or will be transferred out of Ashfield YOI following the recent inspection report;
	(7)  how many juveniles have been transferred out of Ashfield YOI following the recent inspection report; and to which institutions they were transferred;
	(8)  what action he is taking to ensure that the levels of purposeful activity at Ashfield YOI meet the minimum levels specified by the Youth Justice Board and Prison Service Order 4950;
	(9)  whether a time-tabled action plan has been put in place to fulfil the recommendations of the recent inspectorate report into Ashfield YOI; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what plans he has to ensure that (a) a written drug strategy and (b) a drug strategy group are put in place at (i) Ashfield Young Offenders Institution and (b) other YOIs which do not have them;
	(11)  what action he has taken following the inspection report into Ashfield YOI to ensure that (a) there are adequate staffing levels, (b) reception staff are trained in suicide prevention measures, (c) cells are allocated on the basis of risk assessments and (d) an anti-bullying strategy is in place.

Hilary Benn: The authorised operational capacity of Ashfield young offender institution is 400 (303 juveniles (15 to 17 years' of age) and 97 over 18-year-olds). It is currently operating within a reduced capacity of 212 places. On the night of 16–17 March 2003, there were 192 juveniles. There are no prisoners over 18-years-old at the institution. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has not yet specifically transferred any prisoner out of Ashfield and is seeking alternative accommodation within the Prison Service with the view to fully withdrawing from Ashfield during 2003–04.
	An agreed timetabled action plan has been put in place in response to the recommendations of the recent report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on Ashfield. Some points from this action plan come into effect in April 2003 and monitoring of the plan will then start.
	Offending behaviour programmes available to young people at Ashfield include: anger management; prevention of car crime; and Motivating Offenders to Rethink Everything (MORE). A new programme, Strength and Survival (SAS), is due to start in April. This programme focuses on confidence building and assertiveness for offenders.
	Staffing levels at Ashfield are now up to complement and are adequate. Stringent monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure the contractor maintains these levels. Additional new staff are being recruited and trained, and experienced staff from other establishments are offering support. Reception staff are trained in suicide prevention measures and this is a core part of the initial training for all new custody officers.
	Cells are allocated on the basis of risk assessments. Once allocated, the status of young people in both shared and single cells is reviewed regularly. There is an anti-bullying strategy in place at Ashfield. The strategy was audited by a team from the Area Office for juveniles in February 2003 and was judged to be compliant with national standards.
	Purposeful activity levels are carefully monitored and will continue to be monitored. The delivery of purposeful activity has improved significantly in recent months, resulting in an average of 34 hours per week delivery since January 2003. The YJB specifies 30 hours per week. The appropriate contractual action will be taken should levels fall below 30 hours per week.
	Ashfield has a written drug strategy in place which is monitored by the establishment's drug strategy group. Ashfield has also received a substantial amount of funding to enable them to increase their delivery of drug/substance misuse intervention programmes through an enhanced Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare (CARAT) service. All juvenile establishments have a written drug policy. The juvenile drug strategy is being reviewed by the Prison Service and the YJB and will result in the implementation of a new substance misuse strategy for young people. No cost has been incurred by the Prison Service in raising standards at Ashfield to meet the requirements of PS04950.
	Ashfield has a resettlement strategy in place, and is carrying out a needs analysis of the resettlement needs of the young people in order to better support resettlement. However, securing appropriate accommodation on release is proving difficult. The Detention and Training Order is served both in custody and the community. Multi-agency Youth Offending Teams have been established and work with young people in custody and on release.
	The YJB is supporting a number of resettlement pilot programmes in the juvenile estate in order to evaluate the most effective way of ensuring young people's resettlement needs are met.

Asylum Seekers

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 1076W, on asylum seekers, what methods of identification and judging the age of unaccompanied child asylum seekers without documentation are used, apart from appearance; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: In the absence of documentary evidence establishing age the judgment as to whether an applicant is under or over 18 is based solely on appearance. If the applicant wishes to obtain a medical assessment of age she or he may do so independently and any such assessment will be taken into consideration. Any age assessment provided by Social Services, based on behavioural and cultural factors, is taken into account.

Asylum Seekers

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 1076W on asylum seekers, what system the Department has in place to locate relatives of unaccompanied child asylum seekers other than use of the Red Cross and other charities.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate refers all unaccompanied asylum seeking children to Local Authority Social Services Departments, and they then make use of the Red Cross and other organisations to trace parents. The process of accessing these tracing services rests with the Local Authority.

Asylum Seekers

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government has in place (a) to stop child trafficking for the sex trade and (b) to protect child asylum seekers from organised criminal groups when they arrive in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: The United Kingdom is committed to tackling the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. Our strategy on trafficking is set out in the White Paper "Secure Border Safe Haven" and focuses on strengthening the law through new offences covering trafficking; providing appropriate support to victims of trafficking in the UK; tackling the criminals through intelligence and enforcement operations through the Reflex taskforce; European Union co-operation and prevention in source and transit countries in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.
	The new Sexual Offences Bill sets out new wide-ranging offences covering trafficking for sexual exploitation to replace the stop-gap offence of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, introduced in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. The offence of trafficking for sexual exploitation carries a tough maximum penalty of 14 years. In addition to this, the Bill also introduces a new offence of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a child, which will protect children up to 18. It covers a range of offences, including buying the sexual services of a child, (for which the penalty ranges from seven years to life depending on the age of the child); and causing, facilitating or controlling the commercial sexual exploitation of a child in prostitution or pornography, for which the maximum penalty will be 14 years' imprisonment.
	Child victims of trafficking are referred to social services to receive advice and support based on their particular needs. Under the Children Act 1989, local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those children's needs or, where appropriate, by arranging for the provision of services from other agencies. We are working with Department of Health on examples of good practice on how this commitment is delivered.
	Joint work is also underway between key agencies at principal entry points to identify children at risk. A Child Protection Pilot Project was launched on 10 March at Heathrow, this is a joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and the Immigration Service.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of (a) 10 October 2002, (b) 7 November 2002, (c) 5 December 2002, (d) 2 January, (e) 6 February and (f) 5 March relating to her constituent Mr. Bilal Mumtaz Bhatti of Turnford.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 March 2003
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 19 March.

Correspondence

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department intends to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central, of (a) 23 October 2002, re Ms LB, ref PO 22392/2, (b) 29 October 2002, re Ms MS, ref PO 23397/2, (c) 1 November 2002, re Mrs. SBA, ref PO 22970/2, (d) 4 November 2002, re Mr. ADS, ref PO 23121/2, (e) 5 November 2002, re Mr. OOA, ref PO 23039/2, (f) 8 November 2002, re Mr. DC, ref PO 23410/2, (g) 14 November 2002, re Ms BK, ref PO 24950/2, (h) 20 November 2002, re Mr.UA, ref PO 134/3, (i) 21 November 2002, re Mr. JM, ref PO 3277/3, (j) 22 November 2002, re Mr. HS, ref PO 23397/2, (k) 25 November 2002, re Mr.AHS, ref PO 24698/2, (l) 26 November 2002, re Home Office Policy, ref 24848/2, (m) 11 December 2002, re Mr.TE, ref PO 25612/2, (n) 6 January 2003, re Mr.MB, ref PO 512/3, (o) 6 January 2003, re Mr.SA, ref PO 508/3 and (p) 9 January 2003, re Mr. MOA, ref PO 2050/3.

Beverley Hughes: I have instituted measures to deal with outstanding correspondence and reach a steady state of replying to letters within target. In keeping with letters from other right hon. and hon. Members I will reply to my hon. Friend's letters as soon as possible.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Members for West Worcestershire dated 20 September 2002 for which an acknowledgement card (ref. 19910/2) was sent on 25 November 2002.

Beverley Hughes: My noble Friend Lord Filkin replied to the hon. Member on 17 March.

Criminal Records Bureau

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of service provided by the Criminal Records Bureau; and how many applications are waiting to be processed and what the average time taken is, broken down by employment sectors.

Hilary Benn: Since 11 March 2002 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has received 1,537,968 Disclosure applications and has issued 1,341,679 Disclosures. There are less than 44,000 applications currently outside our three week service standard. This figure has reduced from its peak of 109,000 during the summer of 2002 as a direct consequence of the targeted work that is being done to clear the oldest applications from the system. The current average time taken to process a Disclosure application stands at five weeks.
	For the last four months the CRB has issued on average more Disclosures each week than it has received applications for, thereby reducing the number of outstanding cases. The CRB is issuing around 42,000 Disclosures per week, which is over double the weekly output issued by the police under the previous arrangements. There are no IT Procedures at present to extract information from the CRB database by employment sector. It is expected that this functionality will become available in subsequent system releases. No distinction is made in relation to the profession of an applicant as all applications are subject to the same level of service.

London Bombings

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bomb at the King's Arms public house in Woolwich, London on 7 November 1974;
	(2)  what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bomb at the Tower of London on 17 July 1974;
	(3)  what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bomb at Green Park Underground Station in London on 9 October 1975;
	(4)  what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bomb at the Hilton Hotel in London on 3 September 1975;
	(5)  what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bomb at Walton's Restaurant, Walton Street, London on 18 November 1975;
	(6)  what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bomb attack on a coach travelling along the M62 on 4 February 1974.

David Blunkett: These cases remain open. Should any new evidence or intelligence come to the attention of the police service, in these or other similar cases, it will, of course, be investigated fully.

Ministerial Secretariat andCommunication Directorate

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total (a) cost and (b) staffing of the (i) Ministerial Secretariat and (ii) Communication Directorate was in each year since 1990–91; what the purpose of each is; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: The purpose of the Ministerial Secretariat is both to support Ministers and the permanent secretary in their parliamentary and departmental work and the Department in working effectively with Ministers and private office to achieve the Home Office aims. Figures for the Secretariat are:
	
		
			 Year Staff numbers Costs 
		
		
			 1996–97 72 3,279,782 
			 1997–98 62 3,340,790 
			 1998–99 79 3,833,174 
			 1999–2000 79 3,754,063 
			 2000–01 79 (16)4,116,973 
			 2001–02 91 4,877,233 
			 2002–03 101 (17)5,089,014 
		
	
	(16) Costs have increased following the addition of two new Ministers and their private offices together with other re-organisation of staff between private office and the rest of the Department.
	(17) Estimated figures for year end.
	The purpose of the Communication Directorate is to take a strategic overview of Home Office communication activity. This involves setting and facilitating delivery of strategic objectives through effective long-term planning, co-ordination and evaluation. Figures for the Communication Directorate are:
	
		
			 Year Staff numbers Communication Directorate costs Publicity costs 
		
		
			 1996–97 100 3,713,192 8,386,880 
			 1997–98 88 4,102,943 1,291,676 
			 1998–99 101 3,960,185 288,174 
			 1999–2000 90 5,580,806 11,451,496 
			 2000–01 117 7,699,620 36,185,911 
			 2001–02 153 9,242,712 22,928,899 
			 2002–03 226.5 9,086,614 (18)17,000,000 
		
	
	(18) Estimated figures for year end.
	The publicity costs comprise major campaigns on police recruitment, crime reduction and until June 2001 electoral registration and fire safety.
	These staffing figures include press office where numbers have risen following an externally led review of the structure and operation of the press office in 1999. One of the benefits has been that media calls to the press office are being answered within four rings 90 per cent. of the time. Previously there were occasions when up to 40 per cent. of media calls were lost.
	Details of costs prior to 1996 are not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department was in 2002.

David Blunkett: Responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Part (a) of this question will be addressed in a letter from Mr. Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member.
	The cost of taxi fares incurred by the Home Office is not recorded centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Miscarriage of Justice

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he takes into account when assessing ex gratia payments for persons whose convictions have been quashed as a result of a miscarriage of justice; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: While the Home Secretary decides whether an applicant qualifies for compensation, the assessment of the amount of compensation is undertaken by an Assessor appointed by the Home Secretary under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, currently the Lord Brennan QC. In statutory cases the amount of an award is wholly a matter for the Assessor and the Home Secretary has no power to influence or vary his determination. In ex gratia cases the Assessor's role is to advise the Home Secretary but successive Home Secretaries have agreed to be bound by the Assessor's advice.
	In calculating the amount of compensation to be awarded to victims of miscarriages of justice, the Assessor applies principles analogous to those governing the assessment of damages for civil wrongs. The level of compensation is calculated in the same way whether the applicant qualified for compensation under the statutory scheme or the ex gratia scheme. The basis on which compensation is assessed is given in statute (section 133(4A) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988), in the Home Office "Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice—Note for Successful Applicants" (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) and in individual assessments.

Parliamentary Questions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) parliamentary questions and (ii) ministerial letters.

David Blunkett: 541 named day written questions were tabled to the Home Office between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003. 426 received a holding answer. Of these:
	163 were answered within three days;
	104 were answered within seven days;
	96 were answered within 14 days;
	40 were answered within 28 days; and
	23 took over 28 days to be answered.
	The Home Office recognises that its performance in answering PQs is not as good as it should be and is working closely with directorates and its business change and IT partners to improve the situation. We hope to implement a new electronic PQ system by the summer. This should provide us with enhanced methods for monitoring performance and help us to become more efficient in answering the ever-increasing volume of PQs that we receive.
	The target for responding to letters from MPs is 15 working days. To monitor performance, management information is produced internally on a weekly and monthly basis to show details of unanswered letters, and plot overall performance against the target. This month, the Home Office is beginning the roll out of a new computer based correspondence tracking system which, as well as enabling the efficient handling of correspondence, will also provide more detailed management information to help monitor performance.

Sex Trade Workers

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions the Government have had with the Government and agencies of the Republic of Ireland about preventing the movement of sex trade workers over the UK border with the Republic.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 12 March 2003
	I am not aware that any discussions have taken place specifically focusing on preventing the movement of sex trade workers between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
	The issue of the trafficking of those working in the sex trade is one which the Government take very seriously indeed. We have introduced a number of measures to address this.
	The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, introduced a new offence that commenced on 10 February 2003 which criminalised the trafficking of a person for the purpose of controlling them in prostitution.
	The Sexual Offences Bill, introduced into the House of Lords on 28 January 2003 proposes new comprehensive offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation to replace the stop-gap offence introduced by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 of trafficking in prostitution. These new offences tackle the movement of people into, within and out of the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and will carry maximum penalties of 14 years imprisonment. The offence relating to trafficking within the UK applies equally to UK nationals trafficked from place to place in the UK, and to foreign nationals brought here and then moved around from place to place within the UK. This is the first time that the trafficking of UK nationals within the UK has been tackled in legislation.

Visas

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas permitting entry without restrictions on work have been issued in each of the last seven years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 13 March 2003
	There are a range of ways of entering the United Kingdom, legally, from outside the European Union for employment purposes. The main route of entry into the UK for economic purposes is the work permit scheme, which has recently been modernised, and which requires employees to submit applications on behalf of employees. There are a number of other labour-related entry routes such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and Innovator categories. Other routes such as visitors, students, working holidaymakers and those that exist for family reunion and humanitarian protection, all place restrictions on the applicants ability to work in the UK.

Women Prisoners

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women received prison sentences in each of the last five years for (a) failing to have a television licence and (b) other debt.

Hilary Benn: The information is given in the table.
	
		Number of females received into prison
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 For defaulting on the payment of a fine for using a television without a licence 61 41 24 12 9 
			 For defaulting on the payment of a fine for other offences 311 285 191 137 64 
			 For non-payment of community charge/council tax 30 11 7 5 5 
			 For non-payment of other debts 0 0 0 0 0

Yarl's Wood

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the date for the reopening of the undamaged section of the Yarl's Wood Removal Centre for women detainees and their families has been changed; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We want Yarl's Wood to re-open as soon as possible. However, we are continuing to negotiate with Group 4 Amey International and the insurers about the future of the remaining centre at Yarl's Wood and the claim for losses following the fire. Until these negotiations are concluded, no firm date can be given in respect of when Yarl's Wood will re-open.

HEALTH

Acute Care

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the areas where waiting lists for treatment in acute hospitals have lengthened since 2000–01.

John Hutton: From 1 April 2002, the maximum waiting time for inpatient treatment has been cut from 18 months to 15 months. The National Health Service are working to reduce waiting times further, so that by the end of March 2003, the maximum waiting time foran inpatient appointment will be cut to 12 months.
	Maximum waiting times will continue to fall year on year, so that, by the end of 2005, the maximum waiting time for inpatient treatment will be cut to six months.Information on the number of acute NHS trusts by Department of Health and Social Care in England, which have increased their inpatient waiting list size from end of December 2000 to end of December 2002 has been placed in the Library. The information also shows the number of patients waiting over 12 months for an inpatient admission for these trusts at the end of December 2000 and December 2002, the increase/decrease of over 1 2-month waiters from the end of December to December 2002 has also been provided. Whilst recognising that list size in these trusts has increased the government is committed to ensuring the maximum waiting times are reduced in these and all other NHS trusts.

Civil Defence

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what training and equipment for response to a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack is provided for paramedics and other first-response medical personnel; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding, training and expertise have been made available to ensure acute primary care units are fully prepared to handle (a) casualties of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident and (b) mass casualties; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Since 11 September 2001, national health service preparations have been stepped up to ensure we are as prepared as we can be in responding to a range of possible new threats, such as the deliberate release of chemical or biological agents or incidents associated with radiological or nuclear hazards.
	The NHS has increased its preparedness by stockpiling medical equipment, antidotes, antibiotics and vaccines. The Department of Health has issued specific guidance to the NHS on the public health response to the deliberate release of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, mass decontamination and mass casualties. New protective suits and associated mobile decontamination units have been for use by ambulance and accident and emergency staff working on the decontamination of patients alongside appropriate training for their use.
	The Department of Health has made available through the emergency planning section of its website www.doh.gov.uk/epcu a comprehensive package of guidance for clinicians on dealing with the consequences of deliberate release. This information is regularly updated. The website contains a link to the Public Health Laboratory Service website www.phls.org.uk which provides additional clinical and other information.

General Practitioners

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) GPs and (b) GP practices there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 6 March 2003
	Greater London is not recognised as an area for which figures are collected. The area covering the Directorate of Health and Social Care—London is given as the nearest alternative and figures are shown in the following table.
	
		General medical practitioners 1 and partnerships in England and London DHSC as at 1 October 1997 and 31 March 2002 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			  October 1997 March 2002 
			  All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) of which: unrestricted principals (UPEs)2 Partnershipsof UPEs All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) of which: unrestricted principals (UPEs)2 Partnershipsof UPEs 
		
		
			  
			  
			 England Total 29,389 27,099 9,102 30,858 27,956 8,825 
			 of which:   
			 London DHSC Total 4,532 3,849 1,758 4,549 3,970 1,691 
		
	
	Note:-
	(19) All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) include UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para. 52 SFA) and PMS O GP retainers were first collected in the 1999 census, for reasons of comparability they have been excluded from the table.
	(20) UPEs include CMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	We recognise that London has both short and longer term special needs with regard to the recruitment and retention of its general practice (GP) workforce. The NHS Plan target is 255 additional GPs in London by 2004. We are committed to expanding the primary care workforce both through national and local initiatives.
	Provisional figures for September 2002 from the Modernisation Board Annual Report show that in England since 1999 there has been an increase 700 GPs.

General Practitioners

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will review guidelines surrounding the charging for certificates signed by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: General practitioners are required to issue specified medical certificates, free of charge. However, GPs also provide a variety of other services, which successive governments have regarded as private matters between an organisation and the doctor providing the service and the doctor is free to make a charge for these non National Health Service services if he or she wishes.

Health Visitors

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to allow direct entry into health visiting rather than through nursing or midwifery.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council has only the powers to regulate the professions of nursing and midwifery.

Health Visitors

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with representatives of health visitors.

John Hutton: Department of Health Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with health visitor representatives. In recent months these have included discussions on health visitor regulation, child protection and the Laming report, the children and maternity services national service framework, the framework for nursing in primary care, recruitment and retention issues and "Agenda for Change".

Health Visitors

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to set up different registers for nurses, midwives and health visitors.

John Hutton: None. The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the body responsible for making proposals in respect of the parts of the register.

Home Care Charges

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities in England received no income from home care charges in the latest available year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 February 2003
	In 2001–02, Cumbria, Isles of Scilly, Southwark, Stockton-on-Tees, Swindon and Wokingham councils did not report any income arising from sales, fees and charges from their home care services.
	In 2000–01, Cumbria, Slough, Stockton-on-Tees and Tower Hamlets did not report any income arising from home care.
	In 1999–2000, Coventry, Cumbria, Hammersmith and Fulham, Stockton-on-Tees and Tower Hamlets did not report any income arising from home care.

Needlestick Injuries

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many needlestick injuries there were in the NHS involving the risk of transmission of a blood borne virus in (a) England, (b) each NHS region and (c) each strategic health authority in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect these data centrally but relies on data that are already reportable under current legislation and departmental guidance. Data collected on a voluntary basis from national health service trusts between July 1997 and June 2002 identified 1,550 incidents that involved the risk of transmission of blood borne viruses.
	Ministers have agreed that new guidance to be published in autumn 2003 will advise NHS employers that they should collect comprehensive and validated data on the incidence of needlestick injuries, via a standardised surveillance programme.

NHS (International Recruitment)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) financial and (b) other support is available to overseas nurses in finding suitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 17 March 2003
	The guidance on international nursing recruitment sets out national health service trust responsibilities when recruiting nurses internationally. Employers should pay for recruits' air fares and either provide trust accommodation or take steps to seek appropriate accommodation.
	The NHS housing initiative, organised through NHS Estates, will provide assistance with key worker accommodation.

NHS Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total income was from private charges in each NHS acute trust in the last year for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The information has been placed in the Library.

NHS Trusts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) chief executives and (b) other non-medical staff of NHS trusts are paid in excess of £100,000.

John Hutton: The audited summarisation schedules of National Health Service trusts in 2001–02 showed 13 non-medical staff with remuneration over 100,000. This figure excludes directors and chief executives for whom information is not available nationally. Some information on chief executives' and directors' salaries is included in the accounts for individual trusts which are published locally.

Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of agency and bank nurses in (a) Sutton and (b) London in the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these costs on the respective primary care trusts.

John Hutton: Expenditure on bank nurses is included within national health service nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. Expenditure on agency nurses is included within non-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff.
	The following table contains data outlining the expenditure on non-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff within the boundary of the London Department of Health and Social Care.
	
		Expenditure on non-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, within the London DHSC boundary—2001–02 -- £
		
			 Organisation name Expenditure on non-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 
		
		
			 Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 9,304,846 
			 Nelson and West Merton PCT 0 
			 Merton Sutton and Wandsworth HA 0 
			 Total 9,304,846 
			   
			 London DHSC total 229,288,793 
		
	
	Source:
	1. Annual financial returns of health authorities.
	2. Annual financial returns of NHS trusts.
	3. Annual financial returns of primary care trusts.
	In December an agreement was awarded to 72 agencies for the supply of agency nurses, midwives, health visitors and health care assistants to the acute and primary care sectors of the NHS across London.
	This agreement will introduce new quality standards both in terms of the agency workers and also the services to be offered by the agencies. Furthermore it is anticipated that the cost of these agency workers will be reduced by between £9 million and £18 million across London during 2003–04.

Oldchurch Hospital

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on meeting targets for Oldchurch Hospital in the London borough of Havering.

John Hutton: Oldchurch Hospital is part of Barking, Havering and Redbridge National Health Service Trust. It is not possible to differentiate between the two sites as data are aggregated.
	The trust met both the 15-month inpatient and 26-week outpatient waiting times targets last year and is working towards achieving a maximum wait of 12 months for inpatients and 21 weeks for outpatients by the end of March 2003.
	The trust has also made significant progress on reducing the numbers of beds used by delayed transfers of care over the year.

Oldchurch Hospital

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the management of Oldchurch Hospital in the London borough of Havering; and what plans he has to visit the hospital.

John Hutton: I have had no recent discussions with the management of Oldchurch Hospital. However, the North East London Strategic Health Authority directors, who, since Shifting the Balance of Power, now performance manage Barking, Havering and Redbridge National Health Service Trust, regularly meet with trust management.
	I last visited Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust on 6 September 2001. I have no current plans to visit the hospital.

Passive Smoking

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of passive smoking in the workplace.

Nick Brown: I have been asked to reply.
	Research by the Department of Health's Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) into the general effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is continuing.
	The results of a survey on smoking behaviour and attitudes, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics in 2002, are due to be published on behalf of the Department of Health this summer.

Smallpox

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the World Health Organisation's advice on smallpox strategy referred to by the Minister for Policing, Crime Reduction and Community Safety, Official Report, column 204WH, in his reply to the debate on civil defence on 4 March 2003.

John Hutton: holding answer 12 March 2003
	A copy of the advice issued by the World Health Organisation in October 2001 has been placed in the Library. This advice followed a review of the WHO guidelines of 1998, and a copy of these guidelines will be placed in the Library.

Teenage Pregnancies

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnancies in girls under the age of 16 there have been in each year since 1995 in (a) Doncaster and (b) the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Caroline Flint, dated 20 March 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many pregnancies in girls under 16 there have been in each year since 1995 in (a) Doncaster and (b) the UK. (103509)
	The figures requested are given in the table below for 1995 to 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, for Doncaster and Great Britain. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available, as the 1967 Abortion Act does not apply in Northern Ireland.
	
		Conceptions(21) to girls aged under 16, Doncaster and Great Britain, 1995–2001 -- Numbers
		
			 Year Doncaster(22) Great Britain 
		
		
			 1995 69 8,819 
			 1996 79 9,697 
			 1997 85 9,077 
			 1998 89 9,235 
			 1999 78 8,648 
			 2000(23) 76 8,816 
			 2001(23),(24) 67 8,586 
		
	
	(21) Includes pregnancies that result in one or more live or still births, or a legal abortion under the 1967 Abortion Act. Figures shown in this table do not include miscarriages.
	(22) Metropolitan county district
	(23) Information for 2000 includes estimated figures for Glasgow Royal Maternity and Western Isles to allow for a shortfall in data. This also applies to Western Isles for 2001.
	(24) Provisional data.